BX  8958  . B8  M2  1923 
McNees,  W.  S.  1861-1943. 
History  of  Butler  Presbytery 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/historyofbutlerpOOmcne 


REX'.  WILLIS  S.  McNEES,  D.  D. 
Stated  Clerk 


-«■»-  ''-mm-'  <◄ 


►o  -cam-  o  <>  -«■»-(> <>  -«■»-<> -«■»-  <)«»()«»  o  *■»-  <  >•«■»>  <>■ -ma+n-mm-i 


History  of  Butler  Presbytery 


A  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Presbytery 

of  Allegheny 


AND 


Its  Legal  Successor,  the  Presbytery 

of  Butler 


t 


Y 


REV.  W.  S.  McNEES,  D.  D. 

STATED  CLERK 


THE  ZIEGLER  PRINTING  CO.,  INC..  BUTLER,  PA. 


1923 


CONTENTS 


Foreword  . . - . . 

Introduction  . - . . . . 

The  Presbytery: 

Origin  and  Early  History . . 

Expansion  and  Organization  of  the  Churches 

Ecclesiastical  Connections  . . . . . 

Church  Fathers  and  Early  Pastors... . . 

Support  of  Pastor . . . . 

Church  Buildings . . . . 

Matter  and  Manner  of  Praise..... . . . . . 

Internal  Difficulties  . . . . . . 

Sabbath  . . . . . . . 

Slaver}’  . . . . . . . . 

Temperance  and  Interesting  Resolutions. ..' . 

Education:  General  and  Religious... . 

Benevolence:  Methods  and  Results . 

Missions:  Home  and  Foreign.. . . . 

Revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith . 

Fruits  of  Revision . . . 

Consolidation  Movements  . . . 

Statistical  Material  . . . . . 

Original  Pastors  and  Churches . 

Churches  Organized  . . 

Churches  Received  . . . . . 

Churches  Transferred  . . . 

Churches  Names  Changed . . 

Churches  that  Withdrew . . . . . . 

Churches  Disorganized  . 

Stated  Clerks  . 

Permanent  Clerks  . 

Ordinations  . . 

Licentiates  . 

New  Blood . . 

Comparative  Table  . 

Closing  Paragraphs  . 

Historv  of  the  Churches . . . 


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FOREWORD 


The  approach  of  the  Centennial  of  the  organization  of  the  Presby¬ 
tery  of  Allegheny  on  April  3,  1921,  led  the  Presbytery  of  Butler,  its 
legal  successor,  to  authorize  its  Stated  Clerk  to  prepare  a  brief  account 
of  their  joint  stewardship  for  the  century.  The  experiences,  difficulties 
and  methods  of  progress  in  these  Presbyteries  differed  little  from  ad¬ 
joining  Presbyteries  in  the  same  period  except  in  minor  and  local  details. 
Chapters  of  special  local  interest  and  others  covering  subjects  of  vital 
interest  and  importance  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  large  and  to  the 
nation  as  a  whole  were  prepared.  Parts  of  these  chapters  were  read 
during  the  Centennial  Program,  April  3-5,  1921. 

When  it  was  decided  to  publish  the  History  the  Stated  Clerk  was 
further  directed  to  prepare  a  brief  historical  sketch  of  each  of  the 
churches  now  in  Butler  Presbytery.  This  new  order  necessitated  the 
omission  of  some  sections  of  the  original  chapters,  as  well  as  the  details 
of  pastorates.  The  spirit  and  fidelity  of  the  true  shepherd  of  God’s 
flock  is  the  same  whether  the  service  is  a  few  years  or  forty  years  and 
high  honor  is  conferred  by  enrollment  as  pastor  of  a  particular  church. 
In  due  time  this  added  work  was  finished  as  of  April,  1923.  An  earnest 
effort  has  been  made  to  secure  the  earliest  reliable  data  of  the  origin  of 
each  church  and  to  select  such  essential  facts  as  are  most  worthy  of  per¬ 
manent  record.  These  sketches  appear  in  the  order  of  the  organization 
of  the  churches.  In  order  to  avoid  the  repetition  of  things  experienced 
alike  by  the  churches  these  items  will  be  found  in  the  sketches  of  the 
churches  whose  records  gave  the  fullest  details.  The  index  will  enable 
the  reader  to  locate  these  incidents. 

In  such  a  work  covering  a  century  of  earnest  religious  effort  and  in¬ 
cluding  so  many  names  no  claim  is  made  to  infallible  accuracy  but  the 
dates  given  are  the  best  obtainable.  Brief  and  inadequate  as  these 
sketches  are  it  is  the  hope  of  the  compiler  that  the  churches  themselves 
may  be  encouraged  to  prepare  monographs  embodying  the  rich  local 
spirit  and  color  which  gives  to  current  history  its  chief  charm.  Such  a 
rich  legacy  should  be  transmitted  to  further  generations. 

North  Washington,  Pa., 

December  3,  1923. 


6 


INTRODUCTION 


At  the  meeting  of  Butler  Presbytery  at  North  Washington  on  Sep¬ 
tember  11.  1923.  the  w  riter  was  authorized  to  write  a  brief  introduction 
to  the  1  listorv  of  Butler  Presbytery  prepared  by  the  Rev.  \Y.  S.  McNees, 
1).  D.  What  is  wanted  by  the  Presbytery,  however,  is  not  an  "Intro¬ 
duction"  but  rather  a  “Supplement"  from  another  than  the  author  of 
the  book.  W  ith  characteristic  modest}'  Dr.  McNees  omits  in  his  com¬ 
pilation  of  the  History  any  reference  to  himself.  This  omission  cannot 
be  allowed  in  view  of  the  fact  that  for  almost  a  third  of  the  century  of 
which  he  writes  he  himself  was  one  of  the  leading  pastors  of  the  Pres- 
bvterv  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  its  efficient  and  beloved  Stated 
Clerk.  This  introduction  therefore  resolves  itself  into  a  brief  biographic 
sketch  of  Dr.  McNees  and  his  relation  to  the  Presbytery. 

Willis  S.  McNees  was  born  near  the  village  of  Jacksville, 
October  9.  1861.  and  with  the  exception  of  the  years  spent 

in  the  Seminar}'  and  one  year  in  a  Home  Mission  Church  in  Minnesota, 
his  life  and  labors  have  been  within  the  bounds  of  Butler  Presbytery. 
In  1 88S  he  was  graduated  from  Grove  City  College,  being  an  instructor 
in  that  institution  during  the  years  1883-1887.  Having  definitely  de¬ 
termined  upon  the  ministry  as  his  life  work  he  entered  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  taking  two  years’  work  there  and  then  one  year 
in  L'nion  Theological  Seminary,  New  York,  graduating  in  1889.  Re¬ 
turning  to  his  father’s  home  he  received  ordination  at  the  hands  of  the 
ministers  of  Butler  Presbyter}’  on  September  23,  1890,  in  his  home 
church,  the  Plain  Grove  Presbyterian  Church.  At  that  time  Rev.  Mc¬ 
Nees’  purpose  was  to  devote  his  life  to  Home  Mission  Work  but  was 
prevented  from  doing  so  by  the  serious  illness  of  his  father,  which  com¬ 
pelled  him  to  remain  at  home  for  the  time  being.  Middlesex  Church, 
hearing  of  his  purpose  to  stay  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery, 
invited  him  to  supply  and  later  issued  a  call  to  him  to  become  its  pastor. 
Summit  united  in  the  call  and  on  December  16th,  1890,  Rev.  McNees 
was  installed  as  Pastor  of  both  churches,  after  five  years  in  the  joint 
pastorate  Middlesex  asked  for  full  time,  a  request  which  was  granted 
by  the  Presbytery  and  the  pastorate  continued  until  May  16th.  1903. 
At  that  time  North  W  ashington  and  New  Salem  Churches  united  in  a 
call  and  Rev.  McNees  became  their  pastor  and  is  now  in  his  twentv- 
first  \ear  as  pastor  ot  these  two  churches, — the  longest  present  continu¬ 
ous  pastorate  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbyter}’. 

I  pon  the  death  of  Rev.  J.  R.  Coulter.  D.  IT,  Stated  Clerk 
ol  the  Presbytery,  Rev.  McNees  was  elected  as  his  successor  April  16, 
1901.  a  position  he  has  tilled  continuously  until  the  present  time  and 
from  the  date  of  his  election  his  ministry  has  been  one  of  service  and 
helpfulness  to  the  entire  Presbytery.  With  his  rare  gift  of  friendship 


and  tactful  handling  of  the  many  problems  involved  in  the  affairs  of 
the  Presbytery  he  soon  came  to  be  trusted  as  a  wise  counsellor  and  faith¬ 
ful  friend  by  all  of  the  churches. 

In  1913  Grove  City  College,  his  Alma  Mater,  conferred  upon  him 
the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  in  recognition  of  his  faithful 
services  and  devoted  loyalty  to  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ.  From  time 
to  time  he  has  been  called  upon  to  represent  the  Presbytery  in  the  Synod 
of  Pennsylvania  and  in  the  General  Assembly.  Such  representation 
always  being  accepted  as  a  serious  responsibility  and  trust  not  to  be 
lightly  esteemed,  therefore  with  fidelity  to  the  obligations  involved  he 
was  always  found  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  incident  thereto. 

W  hen  Butler  Presbytery  celebrated  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary 
of  her  organization  in  1921.,  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  turned  to 
Dr.  McNees  as  the  logical  one  to  prepare  a  permanent  history.  This 
book  is  the  result  of  many  painstaking  hours  of  labor  amid  the  claims 
of  an  exacting  pastorate  and  the  multiplying  duties  of  a  Stated  Clerk, 
yet  snatching  an  hour  here  and  there  to  accomplish  the  task  has  in  no 
way  detracted  from  the  results  which  are  now  being  given  to  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Presbytery.  The  book  has  grown  out  of  all  proportion  to 
the  original  plan.  Practically  all  of  the  churches  felt  that  since  we 
were  preparing  the  history,  a  brief  sketch  of  each  individual  church 
should  be  inserted  and  while  this  greatly  increased  the  expense,  yet 
the  book  thus  becomes  of  wider  interest  and  more  permanent  value  to 
the  Presbytery.  May  the  reading  of  these  pages  become  an  inspira¬ 
tion  to  all,  and  from  this  record  of  loyal  devotion  in  the  century  that 
is  past  come  new  enthusiasm  for  the  work  of  the  Lord  in  the  present. 

Geo.  C.  Miller 


8 


History  of  the  Butler  Presbytery 


Origin  and  Early  History 

Our  Presbytery  began  its  separate  existence  and  duties  a  century 
ago.  It  received  a  goodly  but  difficult  heritage.  The  task  was  great 
but  its  founders  were  men  of  faith  and  vision,  loy  al  to  God,  1 1  is  word 
and  Mis  Church  and  ready  to  render  the  utmost  service  required  of  men. 
The  Presbytery  was  then  and  still  is  a  part  of  a  movement  that  roots 
far  back  in  the  past.  And  it  is  wise  to  pause  long  enough  to  describe 
this  movement  and  a  few  outstanding  steps  of  its  progress.  In  brief 
terms  it  is:  the  relation  and  function  of  religion  to  organized  govern¬ 
ment.  This  has  been  a  perplexing  problem  from  very  early  times  and 
the  present  Bolshevik  and  Irish  agitations  make  us  painfully  conscious 
that  the  question  has  not  yet  reached  a  satisfactory  solution. 

In  the  Hebrew  Commonwealth  the  state  and  religion  were  united 
as  bod}'  and  soul.  Like  the  body,  the  state  existed  as  the  agent  of  the 
soul  or  religion.  Jesus  founded  a  kingdom  on  a  different  basis  having 
its  source  and  authority  in  God.  His  kingdom  comes  not  with  out¬ 
ward  evidences  of  organized  powers,  but  residing  in  the  lives  of  men 
and  women,  it  exists  within  the  state  not  as  a  competitor  or  antagonist 
or  an  autocrat,  but  the  source  of  the  greatest  strength  and  blessing  to 
the  state.  Paul  declared  that  any  form  of  government  that  was  seeking 
to  perform  its  true  function  to  its  subjects  was  ordered  of  God  and  he 
counseled  believers  to  be  faithful  to  such  governments. 

When  Christianity  had  become  ascendant  Constantine  made  Chris¬ 
tianity  the  state  religion  and  required  uniformity  in  doctrine,  worship 
and  ecclesiastical  government.  From  the  fourth  century  to  the  close 
of  the  sixteenth  century  the  function  of  the  government  was  to  enforce 
the  rules  and  regulations  of  a  growing  ecclesiasticism.  Even  the  Pro¬ 
testant  Reformation  1519  to  1546  did  not  wholly  destroy  the  assumption 
that  loyal  citizens  must  have  the  same  belief  and  use  the  same  ritual  as 
is  shown  in  the  Lutheran  and  Episcopal  Churches. 

It  remained  for  a  movement  whose  origin  was  in  England,  but 
wrought  out  in  America,  to  secure  complete  separation  of  state  and 
church,  yet  mutually  and  loyally  supporting  the  true  aims  of  each 
other.  It  is  a  happy  coincidence  that  the  Federal  Government  and  the 


General  Assembly,  the  ruling  bodies  of  state  and  church,  were  organ¬ 
ized  in  1789,  the  former  on  April  30th  and  the  latter  on  May  21st. 
Both  are  strong,  centralized  forms  of  authority,  yet  equally  dependent 
for  operation  and  perpetuation  upon  duly  accredited  representatives 
chosen  by  the  subjects  to  be  governed.  It  is  also  worthy  of  note  that 
one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  after  its  organization  was 
effected  felicitated  George  \\  ashington  upon  his  election  and  induction 
as  the  first  President  of  the  United  States  and  expressed  their  confidence 
in  his  integrity,  piety  and  ability  to  rule  wisely.  In  this  unusually 
excellent  paper  the  Assembly  clearly  defined  the  function  of  the  church 
in  orderly  government  in  these  words:  “We  shall  consider  ourselves 
as  doing  an  acceptable  service  to  God  in  our  profession  when  we  con¬ 
tribute  to  render  men  sober,  honest  and  industrious  citizens  and  the 
obedient  subjects  of  a  lawful  government.”  The  President  sent  an  ap¬ 
propriate  and  gracious  reply,  worthy  of  the  man  and  his  office  and  the 
General  Assembly. 

It  should  be  stated  without  hesitation  or  fear  of  contradiction  that 
the  Presbyterian  Church  as  a  whole  has  consistently  endeavored  to  ful¬ 
fill  this  exalted  and  worthy  ideal  and  for  this  loyalty  and  fidelity  has 
endured  reproach  and  sacrifice  and  suffered  division.  The  various 
churches  covered  in  this  review  of  one  hundred  years  have  contributed 
no  small  part  in  maintaining  loyally  this  unselfish  ideal. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Federal  Government  in  1789  only 
Indians,  French  explorers,  adventurers  and  trappers  had  penetrated  the 
vast  region  north  of  the  Ohio  and  west  of  the  Allegheny  Rivers.  But 
between  1790  and  1800  a  steady  and  increasing  emigration  pushed  into 
this  region  from  two  principal  sources  and  directions.  The  first  and 
larger  volume  came  from  the  middle  and  south  eastern  counties  of  the 
state  and  adjacent  parts  of  Maryland,  and  the  other  which  originated  in 
the  Carolinas  and  Virginia  moved  up  the  slopes  of  the  Allegheny 
Mountains  and  poured  through  the  passes  into  the  southwestern  coun¬ 
ties  of  the  state.  These  two  currents  met  in  the  region  of  which  Pitts¬ 
burgh  was  the  center  and  the  combined  stream  moved  northward  and 
westward.  In  the  providence  of  God,  these  two  streams,  having  their 
sources  in  such  distant  centers  and  yet  controlled  by  similar  impulses 
and  motives,  so  timed  as  to  meet  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh, 
were  almost  wholly  Irish,  Scotch  and  Scotch-I rish.  Equally  significant 
is  the  fact  that  the  emigrants  from  the  East  and  their  predecessors  had 
suffered  persecution  in  the  Old  Country  and  had  sought  religious  liberty 
in  the  the  Province  of  the  Penn  family.  This  group  had  been  deeply 
influenced  by  the  evangelical  zeal  of  the  Tennents  and  Whitfield  while 
the  other  branch  of  emigrants  from  the  south  were  conservative  in 
doctrine  and  ultra-loyal  to  the  church  and  her  sacraments. 

Very  soon  additional  emigrants  direct  from  Ireland  and  Scotland 


10 


reinforced  their  brethren  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  due  no  doubt  to 
letters  from  their  kinsmen  in  this  vast  and  unsettled  region.  In  some 
instances  the  Scotch  settled  in  distinct  communities  as  did  the  Eakins, 
Grahams,  McLeods,  McDonalds,  Whites,  Shannons  in  Connoquenes- 
sing  township,  called  “Little  Scotland,”  and  at  Scotch  I  Iill  in  Mercer 
Count\'.  Just  as  distinct  a  group  of  Irish  settlers  located  in  what  is 
now  Donegal  township,  at  least  the  name  is  quite  suggestive.  These 
purer  groups  easily  affiliated  in  marriage  with  those  who  had  preceded 
them  a  few  years  and  in  this  way  the  canny  Scotch  conservatism  and 
wit,  the  vivacity  and  exuberant  spirit  of  the  Sons  of  Erin  are  found 
side  by  side  or  commingled  in  varying  rations.  A  splendid  combination 
was  this  to  meet  the  hardships,  poverty  and  isolation  of  the  pioneers 
in  their  struggles  to  obtain  homes  in  this  heavily  timbered  region. 

This  Scotch-1  rish  element  in  our  national  life  has  been  described 
thus:  “If  the  Puritan  might  be  considered  as  the  thinking  brain  and 
the  Quakers  as  the  sympathetic  heart  of  the  new  nation,  the  Scotch- 
Irish  have  been  the  backbone  of  its  nationality.  Deficient  alike  in  com¬ 
prehensive  philanthropy  and  speculative  intellect,  they  possess  in  their 
v  olitional  energy  a  quality  of  no  less  importance  as  it  has  made  them 
the  element  of  persistence  and  conservatism.”  This  was  correctly  ex¬ 
pressed  in  the  prayer  of  an  aged  representative  of  this  hyphenated  race: 
“Lord  grant  that  I  may  be  always  right  for  Thou  knowest  I  am  hard 
to  turn,”  or  as  Dr.  J.  R.  Coulter  once  phrased  it,  “Now  I  know  why  it  is 
so  hard  to  get  the  devil  out  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.” 

Another  item  important  to  a  right  understanding  of  the  work  of 
the  Christian  Church  in  this  region  is  that  in  England  and  Scotland  and 
Ireland  Presbyterian  Churches  had  graduates  of  universities  and  theo¬ 
logical  halls  for  their  pastors.  It  is  no  cause  of  wonder  then  that 
widely  scattered  settlements — “sheep  without  shepherds”  should  yearn 
for  those  who  could  “rightly  divide  the  word  of  truth  unto  them?” 
This  was  their  heaviest  privation,  yet  they  bore  it  heroically  rather  than 
lower  the  standard  of  an  educated  and  pious  ministry.  They  preferred 
to  wait  until  more  ministers  could  be  secured  rather  than  follow  leaders 
whose  learning  and  orthodoxy  could  command  neither  their  respect  nor 
their  confidence.  For  this  loyalty  the  Presbyterian  Church  ought 
ever  to  render  thanks  and  to  hold  those  suffering  pioneers  in  grateful 
remembrance. 

It  is  with  the  sons  and  daughters  of  these  pioneer  settlers  that  our 
century  begins.  I  heir  fathers,  like  Puritan  and  Pilgrim,  had  felt  the 
heavy  hand  of  intolerance  under  the  prelatic  rule  of  the  Stuarts.  The 
natural  and  logical  effect  ot  oppression  deepens  the  desire  for  fuller — 
yea  complete  liberty  in  the  hearts  and  liv  es  of  the  persecuted,  and  intensi¬ 
fied  their  attachment  for  the  church,  its  order  of  worship  and  forms  of 
government  until  it  was  regarded  as  ordered  of  God.  Such  fathers,  in 


America  took  great  pains  to  show  their  sons  and  daughters  at  what 
great  cost  this  liberty  to  worship  God  had  been  obtained  and  exhorted 
them  to  continue  faithful  to  the  church  of  their  fathers  and  to  the 
nation  offering  them  equal  liberty,  rights  and  opportunity.  From  such 
an  ancestry  and  with  such  an  instruction  it  is  to  be  expected  that  the 
second  generation  would  be  no  less  sturdy  and  rugged  in  mental  ability 
or  moral  character  than  their  fathers.  Inheriting  a  deep  religious 
nature  and  chastened  by  constant  toil  they  became  men  and  women  of 
great  strength  of  character,  independent  in  judgment,  clear  in  convic¬ 
tion.  loyal  to  conscience  and  right,  resolute  and  resourceful.  In  spite 
of  many  faults  and  undesirable  traits,  this  Scotch-Irish  element  has  been 
invaluable,  a  tower  of  strength  to  the  state  and  the  Christian  Church  at 
home  and  across  the  seas. 

When  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  was  organized  in  April,  1802,  its 
southern  boundary  began  where  the  Ohio  River  crosses  the  western 
boundary  of  the  state  and  passed  east  to  the  Allegheny  River.  This 
river  became  its  eastern  boundary  and  thence  north  until  it  reached 
Lake  Ontario,  and  its  western  limit  was  about  where  Canton.  Ohio,  now 
stands. 

An  effort  to  divide  this  large  area  was  made  in  1807,  probably  in 
July,  when  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  adopted  the  following  minute: 
"Presbytery  agreed  to  petition  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  at  its  next  meet¬ 
ing  to  erect  Rev.  John  McPherrin,  Thomas  E.  Hughes,  William  Wick, 
James  Satterfield,  Robert  Lee,  John  Boyd,  Abraham  Boyd,  William 
Wood,  Robert  Johnston,  Alexander  Cook  and  Nicholas  Pittinger  into  a 
separate  Presbytery  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Harmony  and  to  hold 
their  first  meeting  at  Concord.”  In  opposition  to  this  action  this  pro¬ 
test  was  filed:  “We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  Erie  Presbytery 
do  protest  against  the  decision  of  said  Presbytery  in  favor  of  the  pro¬ 
posed  division,  inasmuch  as  we  believe  it  will  prove  inimical  to  the 
interests  of  religion  in  many  respects.”  Samuel  Tate,  Joseph  Stockton, 
Benjamin  Boyd. 

Further  discussion  seems  to  have  been  dropped  but  time  and  experi¬ 
ence  cure  many  things  and  overcome  many  prejudices  and  objections. 
Twelve  years  more  of  experience  in  traveling  long  distances  to  Presby¬ 
tery,  supplying  the  widely  scattered  vacant  churches  and  the  perform- 
mance  of  missionary  appointments  overcame  all  scruples  and  Presby¬ 
tery  at  its  meeting  at  Middlesex  Church  September  20,  1820,  appointed 
a  committee  consisting  of  Mr.  Boyd  and  Mr.  Eaton  to  propose  a  division 
line  of  Presbytery.  On  the  next  day  following  the  report  of  its  com¬ 
mittee  Presbytery  requested  Synod  to  approve  the  following  resolution: 
“That  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  request  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  at  its 
next  meeting,  to  set  off  a  new  Presbytery  by  a  line  commencing  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Little  Neshannock  Creek;  thence  up  the  Big  Neshannock 


to  the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek;  thence  up  Yellow  Creek  to  Hosack’s 
Mill;  thence  along  the  Mercer  Road  to  Franklin  and  north  of  Franklin 
to  the  mouth  of  French  Creek;  thence  up  the  Allegheny  River  to  the 
State  line;  to  include  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  McPherrin,  Abraham  Boyd, 
Robert  McGarraugh,  Cyrus  Riggs,  Reid  Bracken.  John  Munson,  and 
John  Redick;  and  all  the  congregations  south  of  that  line,  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  Allegheny  Presbytery.”  On  October  4,  1820,  this  re¬ 
quest  was  approved  by  Synod  and  the  new  Presbytery  was  directed  “to 
meet  at  the  town  of  Butler,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  1821,  at  12 
o’clock;  to  be  opened  with  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  John  McPherrin  and 
in  the  case  of  his  absence  by  the  next  senior  minister  who  is  to  preside 
until  a  Moderator  is  chosen.” 

The  incipient  Presbytery  “met  agreeably  to  the  appointment  of 
Synod,  a  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  John  McPherrin  on  2nd 
Timothy,  2nd  chapter.  15th  verse,”  who  also  constituted  the  Presbytery 
with  prayer  and  presided  until  the  Rev.  Abraham  Boyd  was  chosen 
Moderator  and  the  Rev.  Reid  Bracken,  clerk.  At  its  organization  there 
were  seven  pastors,  five  elders — James  McCurdy,  Alexander  McKean, 
Ephraim  Harris,  James  Hill  and  Gideon  Gibson,  and  twenty  congrega¬ 
tions  and  approximately  a  membership  of  626,  viz: 

Ministers  Congregations  Membership  as  re- 

John  .McPherrin  . Butler  and  Concord .  ported  to  Synod 

Abraham  Boyd  . Bull  Creek  and  Deer  Creek . 81 

Robert  McGaraugh  . Rehoboth  and  Licking . 189 

Cyrus  Riggs  . Scrubgrass  and  Unity . . 

Reid  Bracken  . . Nebo  and  Middlesex . 53 

John  Redick  . Slate  Lick  and  Union . 70 

John  Munson  . Plain  Grove  and  Center.  . . 

Able  to  support  a  pastor . Ebenezer  and  Bear  Creek . . 

Unable  to  support  a  pastor.. Franklin,  Amity,  Richland  and 

Red  Bank  . 

The  new  Presbytery  set  about  its  work  with  earnestness  and  dignity 
and  a  deep  sense  of  responsibility  for  its  members  were  men  of  experi¬ 
ence  and  resourcefulness.  At  its  first  meeting,  among  other  things,  it 
adopted  thirteen  rules  for  the  preservation  of  order  in  all  proceedings; 
received  its  first  member,  Rev.  Alexander  Cook,  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Ohio,  and  placed  the  calls  of  Ebenezer  (Parker  City)  and  Bear  Creek 
in  his  hands  for  consideration,  which  were  later  accepted;  appointed 
Rev.  McPherrin,  McGarrah  and  Munson  “to  examine  the  credentials 
of  traveling  preachers.”  The  temper  and  spirit  of  the  founders  of 
Allegheny  Presbytery  is  shown  by  setting  apart  the  hours  from  10  to 
12  o’clock  ot  the  second  day  for  “special  prayer  for  the  blessing  of  God 
upon  the  Presbytery  and  the  outpouring  of  Flis  spirit  upon  the 
churches.”  They  were  not  ashamed  to  stand  up  for  God.  In  all  their 
ways  they  acknowledged  him  and  fully  realized  that  “not  by  might  nor 


13 


by  power  but  by  My  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,"  must  the  new 
Presbytery  prosper. 

The  young  Presbytery  inherited  much  that  was  valuable.  Pioneer 
ministers  were  missionary  in  spirit  and  training.  Under  their  fostering 
care  the  early  churches  were  founded  and  watered  and  guided.  Now 
they  were  receiving  the  fruit  of  the  toil  and  prayers  of  saintly  servants  of 
God.  The  founders  of  the  new  Presbytery  realized  that  they  had  re¬ 
ceived  a  goodly  heritage,  a  trust  and  a  vantage  ground  which  they  must 
use  for  the  glory  of  God  and  His  church.  How  faithfully  they  admin¬ 
istered  this  trust  the  rich  fruitage  in  faith  and  service  of  subsequent 
years  eloquently  testify. 

A  study  ot  the  records  as  a  whole  for  the  past  hundred  years  reveal 
some  things  worthy  of  note  and  occasional  comment.  The  early  records 
are  few  and  terse  and  require  a  consecrated  and  constructive  imagina¬ 
tion  to  interpret  them  in  their  true  meaning  and  light.  Things  so  well 
known  and  understood  by  the  church  fathers,  the  basic  ideas  of  loyalty 
to  God,  and  1  Iis  word  and  the  ordinances  of  His  house  as  well  as  the 
sinceriety  and  devotion  of  a  poor  but  pious  people  and  so  many  things 
concerning  the  worship  and  practice  of  that  day  which,  if  recorded, 
would  be  invaluable  now  and  a  rare  treat,  is  omitted  and  must  always 
be  assumed  by  the  careful  reader.  W  hat  is  written  pertains  to  posi¬ 
tive  enactments  and  marks  the  steps  of  progress.  Sometimes  the  posi¬ 
tions  taken  are  in  advance  of  the  General  Assembly  but  frequently 
appeals  are  made  to  the  churches  to  comply  with  the  injunctions  of  the 
Assembly. 

The  earl\'  meetings  of  Presbytery  continued  three  or  four  days  and 
were  a  source  of  instruction  and  spiritual  refreshment  for  the  congrega¬ 
tion  w  ith  which  the  Presbytery  convened.  The  work  was  done  leisurely 
and  with  that  composure  and  dignity  that  becomes  wise  stewards  of  the 
mysteries  of  the  Kingdom.  Issues  were  discussed  openly  with  acumen 
and  spirit  and  with  a  thoroughness  as  befits  a  deliberative  and  legisla¬ 
tive  court  of  Jesus  Christ.  For  years  at  the  April  meeting  this  record 
appears:  “Presbytery  entered  into  a  free  conversation  on  the  state  of 
religion  within  our  bounds,"  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up 
a  condensed  narrative  to  be  forwarded  to  the  General  Assembly.  The 
presentation  of  these  reports  bv  the  several  pastors  and  the  discussions 
thereon  were  earnest,  frank  and  heart  searching.  Here  hopes  and  fears, 
humiliations  and  rejoicings  were  mingled  with  tears  of  godly  sorrow 
of  the  pastors  and  earnest  supplication  that  the  Lord  might  again  visit 
His  vineyard  and  that  the  people  “may  return  unto  God  who  will 
abundantly  pardon."  This  was  the  most  profitable  and  far-reaching 
exercise  of  these  watchmen  on  the  towers  of  Zion.  If  “a  frank  confes¬ 
sion  is  good  for  the  soul”  that  unburdens  itself  “with  Godly  sorrow  not 
to  be  repented  of”  these  seasons  that  withheld  nothing  either  on  the 


14 


part  of  the  pastor  or  their  congregations,  together  with  brotherly  coun¬ 
sel  and  encouragement  to  “lift  his  royal  banner  that  it  must  not  suffer 
loss,”  were  the  most  important  and  effective  means  to  secure  spiritual 
unity,  fellowship  and  devotion  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  Presbytery.  When  these  reports  were  ordered  to  be  prepared  and 
presented  in  order  to  be  more  accurate  and  conserve  the  time  of  the 
Presbytery,  marks  a  distinct  decline  of  vital  piety  for  these  reports  soon 
became  formal  and  statistical  and  without  appeal  because  they  lacked 
the  personal  element. 

The  records  also,  especially  the  earlier  ones,  emphasized  the  vital 
relations  which  the  Presbytery  sustains  to  the  Federal  Government  and 
to  the  General  Assembly.  Equal  loyalty  is  demanded  for  each  source 
of  authority.  Care  was  taken  that  the  rights  and  functions  of  each 
were  clearly  defined  and  that  no  occasion  of  confusion  of  rightful  author¬ 
ity  should  arise.  “Render  unto  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Ceasar’s  and 
unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's”  though  not  formally  expressed,  is 
the  guiding  principle  in  very  many  specific  records.  The  crowning 
function  and  glory  of  the  Christian  Church  is  to  teach  men  to  “fear 
God  and  keep  His  commandments,”  to  uphold  and  strengthen  in  every 
way  possible  orderly  government  in  its  efforts  to  administer  national 
affairs  for  the  highest  interests  of  its  obedient  citizens. 

The  records  further  show  that  households  of  faith  have  been  organ¬ 
ized  in  the  past  century  and  that  Christian  people  have  shared  not  only 
the  general  benefits  of  the  material  progress  of  the  nation,  such  as  social, 
intellectual  and  moral  culture,  the  conveniences  and  comforts  that  en¬ 
rich  and  ennoble  life  but  have  also,  through  fidelity  and  application, 
borne  no  insignificant  part  in  every  spiritual  advance  of  Christ’s  cause 
at  home  and  abroad.  T  he  Church  has  often  made  sacrificial  contri¬ 
butions  to  the  nation  in  times  of  need  or  strife,  not  always  willingly 
and  of  choice  but  from  a  profound  sense  of  duty  and  loyalty. 

T  hree  centuries,  each  filled  with  events  and  issues  of  prime  import¬ 
ance  in  themselves  and  in  their  effect  in  giving  shape  and  trend  and 
power  to  an  alert  people,  have  passed  since  the  Pilgrims  landed  on 
Ply  mouth  Rock  to  practice  the  principles  subscribed  in  the  Mayflower’s 
cabin  and  to  found  a  government,  based  upon  the  Bible,  conscience  and 
right  of  tree  speech  and  yet  free  from  religious  oppression.  I  he  past 
century  surpasses  those  that  preceded  it  both  in  the  number  and  the 
magnitude  of  the  issues  and  the  momentous  consequences  involved. 
Singularly,  too.  this  century  divides  into  two  equal  parts  of  fifty  years. 

T  he  first  period  covers  the  entire  history  of  Allegheny  Presbytery. 

Three  characteristics  should  be  noted.  It  was  an  epoch  of  internal  im¬ 
provement.  I  he  clearings  had  steadilv  widened,  the  benumbing  sense 
of  loneliness  and  isolation  had  relaxed  as  settlers  came  in  and  public 
roads  were  opened,  domestic  animals  were  increasing  and  round  lo" 

O  O 


cabins  were  succeeded  by  hewn  log  cabins  with  upper  stories.  A  brick 
house  or  two  were  constructed  in  Butler  a  little  later  and  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  of  Butler  was  built  of  stone  in  1815  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 
Men  and  women,  boys  and  girls  toiled  in  clearing  the  fields.  Pastors 
who  toiled  in  common  with  their  flocks  were  held  in  double  honor.  The 
food  was  simple,  easily  prepared  and  nutritious;  most  of  the  clothing 
was  manufactured  in  the  home  and  it  was  not  until  1840  that  “sto.e 
clothes  began  to  appear.  To  wear  them  was  a  sign  of  vanity.  Wages 
were  low.  In  1830  a  laborer  received  61l/2  cents  a  day  for  reaping  or 
grubbing,  one  dollar  was  considered  a  high  price.  Man  and  team  earn¬ 
ed  $1.25  per  day  for  common  hauling.  Commodities  were  correspond¬ 
ingly  cheap,  viz;  wheat  75 c,  rye  40c,  potatoes  37 l/2c,  flour  3l/2c  a  pound, 
beef  ll/2c  to  3 J/2c,  mutton  4c,  shoes  $1  per  pair,  hay  $4.75  a  ton,  pine 
boards  $1.00  per  hundred  feet  and  whiskey  50c  a  gallon.  Exchange 
was  conducted  by  barter;  money  was  scarce  and  it  was  very  hard  to  get 
enough  to  pay  the  taxes.  Calls  for  pastors  were  drawn  promising  one- 
half  of  salary  in  money  and  the  remainder  in  grain  at  a  stipulated  price 
'laid  down”  at  a  specified  mill.  Agriculture  and  a  variety  of  trades  were 
the  dominant  forms  of  employment.  The  ambition  of  fathers  then  was 
to  secure  a  farm  for  each  of  his  sons  w  hen  the  lad  was  “ready  to  go  to 
himself.”  People  as  a  whole  were  industrious,  thrifty,  progressive  and 
happy,  for  life  does  not  consist  in  the  abundance  of  things  possessed. 
People  realized  their  dependence  upon  God  and  their  fellow’s  and  were 
excellent  neighbors.  They  were  given  to  hospitality  and  many  things 
were  accomplished  by  community  action,  such  as  building  houses, 
churches  or  stations,  wood  chopping,  log  rollings,  flax  scutchings,  apple 
parings,  husking  bees,  and  so  forth.  Yet  this  was  not  a  golden  age. 
Human  nature  shows  the  same  traits,  whether  it  has  much  or  little  of 
the  world’s  goods,  and  some  of  these  traits  are  coarse  and  ugly. 

“Oh  why  should  the  spirit  of  mortal  be  proud 3 
Like  a  swift-fleeting  meteor,  a  fast-flying  cloud, 

A  flash  of  the  lightning,  a  break  of  the  wave, 

Man  passeth  from  life  to  his  rest  in  the  grave.” 

T he  second  characteristic  is  that  it  wTas  a  period  of  religious  dis¬ 
cussion  and  controversy.  It  w’as  limited  to  no  denomination  and  pro¬ 
duced  secessions  and  divisions  in  all  the  leading  bodies  for  various 
causes.  4'hese  discussions  w’ere  often  conducted  with  a  bitterness  and 
rancor  usually  attributed  to  political  campaigns.  4  he  fiercest  and 
most  unreasoning  of  all  discussions  and  the  most  unrelenting  are  relig¬ 
ious  controversies.  Yet  this  period  closed  w’ith  a  fine  religious  co-opera¬ 
tion  because  they  w’ere  sobered  and  chastened  in  four  years  of  war. 
They  had  learned  to  w’ork  together  in  a  common  cause  that  transcended 
all  other  differences  and  diverging  views. 

This  half  century  w’as  filled  with  political  issues  and  moral  reforms 


16 


of  the  first  magnitude,  imperiling  the  very  life  of  the  nation.  I  Iere  too 
was  great  excitement  and  jealousy  and  rivalry  of  political  parties,  acri¬ 
monious  debates  and  in  the  end  the  greatest  fratricidal  war  of  history. 
This  era  opened  like  many  of  the  Psalms  with  dark  clouds  and  a  gloomy 
outlook,  but  closed  with  rays  of  cheer  and  messages  of  hope. 

The  history  of  the  second  half  of  the  century,  that  of  Butler  Pres¬ 
bytery,  has  been  different  in  character.  It  has  been  an  era  of  good  will 
and  of  expansion  in  every  line  of  human  endeavor.  It  is  no  longer  an 
agricultural  era  but  a  time  of  industrial  and  commercial  activity  that  is 
growing  more  intense  year  by  year,  bringing  in  its  train  evils  of  corres¬ 
ponding  magnitude  and  causing  such  unrest  and  strife  and  bloodshed 
that  the  stoutest  souls  are  anxious,  but  the  end  is  not  yet. 


Expansion  and  Organization  of  the  Churches 

Mr.  Robert  McGarrah  was  licensed  bv  the  Redstone  Presbytery, 
October  19,  1803,  and  “was  granted  leave  to  itinerate  six  weeks  in  the 
bounds  of  Trie  Presbytery.”  lie  had  the  pioneering  instinct,  for  we 
find  him  laboring  among  the  isolated  settlements  of  what  is  now  Clarion 
count}',  then  belonging  to  Redstone  Presbytery.  lie  had  gathered  two 
congregations,  New  Rehoboth  and  Licking,  and  accepted  their  calls 
October  16.  1805,  but  for  various  delays  was  not  ordained  or  installed 
until  November  12,  1807.  Owing  to  the  great  distance  from  the  more 
thickly  settled  portions  of  the  Presbytery,  Rev.  McGarrah,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  on  October  4,  181  1,  “requested  that  he  with 
the  congregations  under  his  care  might  be  detached  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Redstone  and  annexed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.”  The  Synod  agreed 
to  his  request  and  ordered  “that  the  Red  Bank  Creek  from  the  mouth 
up  to  the  south  branch  to  the  boundary  line  of  Synod  shall  hereafter  be 
the  line  of  division  between  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  and  the  Presby¬ 
ter}'  of  Erie.” 

It  will  be  observed  that  no  northern  boundary  is  suggested,  that 
would  indicate  where  the  claim  of  Redstone’s  jurisdiction  terminated. 
But  all  this  region  east  of  the  Allegheny  River  and  northward  became 
a  part  ol  Allegheny  Presbytery  at  is  formation  in  1821,  at  which  time 
the  only  other  organized  church  besides  Rev.  McGarrah’s  was  East 
Concord  and  it  was  a  result  of  this  pioneer’s  efforts  as  was  the  begin¬ 
nings  of  the  other  churches.  The  church  owes  a  great  debt  of  grati¬ 
tude  for  such  pioneer  ministers  of  foresight  and  who  enlarged  the  tents 
of  Zion. 

During  the  first  score  of  years  after  Allegheny  Presbytery  was 
erected  no  less  than  a  dozen  churches  were  organized  in  the  missionary 
region  of  Clarion  and  Jefferson  Counties.  In  their  order  they  are: 


Rockland,  Richland,  Brookville,  Beechvvood,  Pisgah,  Bethesda,  Perrv, 
Seneca,  Callensburg,  Alt.  Tabor,  Clarion  and  Greenwood.  This 
expansion  of  the  work  and  the  increased  number  of  churches  necessitated 
the  organization  of  a  new  Presbytery  which  was  authorized  by  Synod 
in  October,  1841,  to  be  known  as  Clarion  Presbytery,  and  was  directed 
to  meet  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January,  1842.  This  was  the  first 
curtailment  of  the  territory  of  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny  and  removed 
five  ministers  and  1258  members.  In  this  same  period  onlv  four 
churches  were  organized  in  other  parts  of  the  Presbytery,  viz.  Taren- 
tum  and  Freeport  in  Allegheny  County;  Upper  Bull  Creek,  now  West¬ 
minster,  in  Butler  County,  and  Clintonville,  in  Venango  County. 

The  next  score  of  years,  1841  to  1861,  the  organization  of  churches 
was  wholly  different  from  the  missionary  efforts  just  described.  The 
new  organizations  were  formed  as  nearly  midway  as  possible  between 
the  pioneer  and  the  well  established  congregations.  Two  chief  causes 
originated  this  movement  which  soon  became  popular,  almost  a  habit. 
The  territory  embraced  in  these  earlier  congregations  was  from  four 
to  eight  miles  square  and  the  pastoral  care  required  in  such  fields  was 
very  great  for  the  most  hard}'  and  energetic  pastors.  People  had  such 
long  distances  to  travel  on  Sabbath  to  attend  the  long  services  at  the 
sanctuary  that  it  was  late  evening  when  they  reached  their  homes,  and 
this  was  a  hindrance  to  regular  attendance.  I  his  movement  did  not 
complete  its  evolution  until  1880  and  by  this  time  the  mother  churches 
were  encircled  by  many  healthy  upstanding  daughters,  but  like  the 
summer  bee  hive,  the  swarms  weakened  the  membership  and  deprived 
the  mother  congregations  of  much  promising  missionary  territory. 

Besides  other  denominations  had  established  flourishing  churches 
in  various  parts  of  the  territory  of  these  mother  churches,  thus  further 
curtailing  the  territory  and  creating  in  effect,  competition,  if  not  rivalry 
and  open  hostility.  And  now  at  the  close  of  the  century  is  it  not  the 
necessary  and  imperative  duty  of  all  denominations  at  work  in  this  area 
to  plan  to  co-ordinate  and  consolidate  the  work  wherever  possible  and 
practicable?  The  Lord  will  not  hold  Christians  guiltless  ii  any  region 
is  over-churched  bv  one  denomination  or  several  denominations.  Is 
not  the  handwriting  already  appearing  on  the  wall? 

The  eight  mother  churches  in  alphabetical  order  are  Amity,  Bull 
Creek,  Butler,  Concord,  Mt.  Nebo,  Plain  Grove,  Plains  and  Scrubgrass. 

7  o 

The  encircling  movement  is  as  follows. 

o 


Amity  1800 

Organised 

New  Hope . . . . . November  17,  1879 

Millbrook. . . . . October  7,  1890 


Centertown  U.  P. 


13 


Bull  Creek,  1793  (or  ’94) 


T  a  re  n  turn . 

Freeport . 

Deer  Creek 
Upper  Bull  Creek 

Westminster . . 

Buffalo . 

Natrona  (?) . . 


Organised 

. . .  1832 

.  ..July  3,  1833 

..July  12,  1835 
.July  12,  1835 
August  3,  1843 
. 1864 


Butler,  1813 

North  Butler. . .January  18,  1848 

Jefferson  Center . . . . May  2,  1864 

Union ville . . October  30,  1877 

Second  Church  of  Butler . . October  11,  1897 

East  Butler . September  27,  1908 


Concord,  1803-1805 


Pleasant  Valley . 

New  Salem.. . . 

North  Butler.. . 

West  Sunbury... . 

Fair  view7. . 

North  Washington 


(Before)  October  21,  1845 

. . July  12,  1847 

. ..January  18,  1848 

. September  4,  1860 

. August  12,  1875 

. May  18,  1880 


Mount  Nebo,  1805 
White  Oak  Springs  U.  P. 

Portersville . . . October  13,  1820 

Evans  City. . . . . . ..February  19,  1833 

Prospect,  received  from  C.  P.  and  reorgan¬ 
ized... . ..July  8,  1877 


Plain  Grove,  1796-1800 


Rich  Hill... . . . . . 1840 

Centerville  (Slippery  Rock) . April  18,  1 8^4 

Leesburg . April  25,  1856 

Harlansburg . . . June  19,  1875 

North  Libert}- . ..June  21,  1880 


Plains,  1860 


Zelienople . November  6,  1846 

Evans  City.. . February  19,  1883 

Crestview . August  20,  1890 

Hope  Evangelical  Lutheran . 1016 


19 


Scrubgrass,  1802-1803 


Organised 

Ebenezer  (Parker  Citv) . 

. 1819 

Clintonville . 

. .February  9,  1841 

New  Salem . . . 

. . .(uly  12,  1847 

Allegheny . 

. . . May  20,  1875 

Eau  Claire  U.  P. 

Muddy 

Creek 

West  Sunbury . __ . 

. September  4,  1860 

Unionville . . . . . 

. . ...October  30,  1877 

Ecclesiastical  Connections 

The  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  exercised  original  juris¬ 
diction  over  the  Presbyterian  Church  until  the  fourth  Wednesday  of 
October,  1788,  at  eleven  o’clock  when  the  Synod  of  Virginia  was  con¬ 
stituted.  Presbytery  formed  a  part  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia  from  1788 
to  September  29,  1802,  when  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  was  organized. 
Then  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  exercised  authority  of  that  part  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  until  the  territory  was  divid¬ 
ed  and  the  Synod  of  Allegheny  was  erected  October,  1853. 

The  relation  to  the  Synod  of  Allegheny  continued  until  the  Synods 
were  reorganized  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1870  when  the  Synod  of 
Erie  was  created  and  ordered  to  meet  in  the  Park  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Erie,  July  7,  1870.  On  July  9,  1870,  the  Presbytery  of  Butler,  cov¬ 
ering  the  territory  of  Butler  county  and  the  southern  tier  of  townships 
of  Venango  county  with  so  much  of  Mercer  and  Lawrence  counties  as 
would  complete  the  rectangle,  was  erected  into  Butler  Presbytery. 

The  Presbytery  of  Butler  continued  to  report  to  the  Synod  of  Erie 
until  the  consolidation  of  the  Synods  in  the  State  in  1882.  Hitherto 
every  minister  was  expected  to  attend  the  meetings  of  Synod  as  faith- 
full)'  as  he  did  the  Presbytery  in  which  he  was  enrolled,  but  since  1882 
the  Synod  has  been  a  delegated  body. 

PRESBYTERIAL  LINEAGE 

Redstone — “At  a  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  New  ^  ork  and  Phila¬ 
delphia  held  at  Philadelphia,  ye  16th  of  May,  1781,  The  Revd.  Messrs. 
Joseph  Smith,  John  McMillan,  James  Powers  and  I  haddeus  Dodds 
having  requested  to  be  erected  into  a  separate  Presbytery  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  the  Synod  granted  their  re¬ 
quest,  and  appointed  the  first  meeting  to  be  held  at  Laurel  Hill  Church, 
the  third  Wednesday  of  September  next  at  eleven  o’clock  A.  M.  It 
will  be  observed  that  no  boundaries  are  given  and  no  churches  named 
and  Redstone  is  therefore  the  mother  Presbytery  west  of  the  Allegheny 


20 


Mountains  and  exercised  its  authority  throughout  Western  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  and  outlying  settlements. 

Ohio — Relative  to  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  there 
are  two  minutes  for  our  guidance.  The  first  is  by  Redstone  Presbytery: 
“On  April  ye  19th,  1793,  Presbytery  agreed  to  request  Synod  at  their 
next  meeting  to  erect  the  Revd.  John  Clark,  John  McMillan,  Thaddeus 
Dodds,  Joseph  Patterson,  James  Hughes  and  John  Brice,  together  with 
the  Churches  on  the  west  side  of  the  Monongahela  River,  into  a  separate 
Presbytery  to  be  known  as  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.”  The  response  to 
this  request  is  the  following  minute:  “At  a  meeting  of  the  Synod  of 
Virginia  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  September  25,  1793,  the  Synod  grant¬ 
ed  the  request  and  appointed  the  first  meeting  to  be  held  at  Buffalo  on 
the  fourth  Tuesday  of  October  (22)  next,  at  12  o’clock.”  The  author¬ 
in'  of  this  Presbytery  extended  north  and  west  of  a  line  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Monongahela  River  to  Presque  Isle,  now  Erie. 

Erie — Owing  to  the  long  distances  to  the  meetings  of  Presbytery 
and  the  great  need  of  pioneer  itinerating  and  owing  to  a  growing  desire 
for  a  new  Synod,  we  have  the  following  minute:  “At  a  meeting  of  the 
Synod  held  at  Winchester  (Va.)  October  2nd,  1801,  at  the  unanimous 
request  of  the  members  present  from  the  Presbyteries  of  Redstone  and 
Ohio,  the  Synod  did  and  hereby  do  erect  the  Rev.  Mssrs.  Thomas 
Hughes,  William  Wick,  Samuel  Tait,  Joseph  Stockton,  and  Robert  Lee 
together  with  all  the  congregations  north  and  northwest  of  the  Ohio  and 
Allegheny  Rivers  unto  the  place  where  the  Ohio  crosses  the  western 
boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  into  a  separate  Presbytery,  to  be  called  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie  and  appointed  their  first  meeting  to  be  held  at  Mount 
Pleasant  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  April  next.  In  compliance  with  this 
order  the  Presbytery  was  organized  April  13,  1802. 

Allegheny ■ — Agitation  for  the  division  of  Erie  Presbytery  began  in 
1807,  but  it  was  not  until  October  29,  1820,  that  the  following  action 
was  taken:  “Resolved  that  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  request  the  Synod 
of  Pittsburgh  its  next  meeting,  to  set  off  a  new  Presbytery  beginning  at 
the  mouth  of  Ldttle  Neshannock  Creek,  thence  up  the  Big  Neshannock 
to  the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek,  thence  up  Yellow  Creek  to  I  Iosack’s  Mill, 
thence  along  the  Mercer  Road  to  Franklin,  thence  up  the  Allegheny  to 
the  State  Line;  to  include  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  McPherrin,  Abraham 
Boyd.  Robert  McGarrah,  Cyrus  Riggs,  Reid  Bracken  and  John  Reddick 
and  all  of  the  congregations  south  of  that  line,  to  be  known  by  the  name 
of  Allegheny  Presbytery.”  This  request  was  granted  by  Synod,  October 
4.  1820,  and  the  first  meeting  “to  be  at  the  town  of  Butler  on  the  first 
Tuesday  of  April,  1821,  at  12  o’clock.” 

Butler — In  reorganizing  the  Synods  and  Presbyteries  following  the 
reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School  bodies  in  November,  1869,  the  Pres- 


bytery  of  Butler  was  constituted  by  the  Synod  of  Erie,  July  9,  1870,  and 
was  declared  to  be  the  legal  successor  of  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny. 

THE  PRESBYTERY’S  RELATION  TO  HIGHER  JUDICATORIES 

From  1821  to  1882  the  relation  of  the  Presbytery  to  the  Synods  of 
Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny  and  Erie  was  more  direct  and  vital  than  in 
recent  years.  All  the  ministers  in  each  of  the  Presbyteries  within  the 
prescribed  district  comprised  the  Synod.  All  matters  originating  in  the 
General  Assembly  or  the  lower  judicatories,  requiring  the  Synod’s 
judgment,  including  those  matters  arising  within  the  Synod  itself,  were 
openly  discussed  and  sometimes  were  sharply  debated,  lire  more  im¬ 
portant  and  radical  issues  were  deferred  until  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Synod-  In  this  way  the  Presbytery  had  first  hand  personal  knowledge 
of  all  measures  affecting  its  interests  and  duties  and  could  exert  an 
intelligent  and  uniform  influence  throughout  the  Presbytery  to  secure 
the  desired  results.  Or  if  the  proposed  plan  did  not  secure  the  approval 
of  the  Presbytery  a  mature  judgment  could  be  given.  The  response 
of  the  churches  to  this  first  hand  information  in  view  of  local  condi¬ 
tions,  the  general  poverty  of  the  people  and  their  struggle  to  secure 
the  necessities  and  comforts  of  life  was  remarkable  and  reveal  a  confi¬ 
dence  in  and  loyalty  to  their  spiritual  teachers  and  leaders  that  is 
worthy  of  the  Apostolic  Church. 

The  Presbytery  when  organized  was  in  the  bounds  of  the  Synod 
of  Pittsburgh  and  so  continued  until  the  Synod  of  Allegheny  was  created 
October,  1853.  Following  the  reunion  of  the  Old  School  and  the  New 
School  Churches,  November  12,  1869,  the  Assembly  of  1870  reorganized 
the  Synods.  The  Synod  of  Erie  was  erected  and  ordered  to  organize 
in  the  Park  Street  Church  in  Erie  on  July  7,  1870.  The  Presbytery 
reported  as  directed  to  the  new  Synod  and  two  days  later  the  following 
action  of  the  Synod  of  Erie,  constituting  the  Presbytery  of  Butler  is 
recorded,  viz:  “The  Presbytery  of  Butler  to  consist  of  the  ministers 
and  churches  embraced  in  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny  except  so  much 
of  its  territory  as  lies  in  Armstrong  County;  and  this  Presbytery  shall 
be  the  legal  successor  of  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny.”  On  the  same 
day,  July  9,  1870,  the  Presbytery  of  Butler  met  as  directed  by  the 
Synod  of  Erie,  in  Park  Street  Church  of  Erie,  Pa.,  and  was  organized. 
The  following  members  were  present — Ministers:  R.  B.  Walker,  D.  D., 
Ephraim  Ogden,  W.  D.  Patton,  D.  C.  Cooper,  J.  H.  Marshall,  S.  A. 
Hughes,  and  J.  A.  McPherrin;  Ruling  Elders:  Alexander  McBride,  D. 
F.  Black  and  D.  J.  Russell.  Absent — Samuel  Williams,  James  Coulter, 
J.  R.  Coulter,  W.  I.  Brugh,  J.  V.  Miller  and  Alexander  Cunningham- 
Rev.  J.  H.  Marshall  was  elected  Moderator,  and  Rev.  S.  A.  Hughes, 
Temporary  Clerk,  each  for  the  remainder  of  the  year.  Rev.  J.  R. 
Coulter  was  chosen  Stated  Clerk. 


?? 


The  Presbytery  continued  a  part  of  the  Synod  of  Erie  until  the 
consolidation  of  the  Synods  of  Pennsylvania  in  1882,  at  the  urgent  re¬ 
quest  of  the  General  Assembly  to  make  the  Synod  wherever  possible 
to  correspond  with  the  boundaries  of  the  State.  1  he  Synod  of  Penn- 
svl vania  since  1882  has  been  a  delegated  body.  The  present  ratio  of 
representation  is  the  sum  of  ministers  and  churches  divided  by  twenty- 
four.  An  equal  number  of  elders  also  are  chosen  commissioners  to  the 
annual  meeting  in  October. 

Never  has  the  Presbytery  failed  to  have  a  ministerial  commissioner 
present  at  the  General  Assembly,  but  it  was  in  1832,  eleven  years  after 
tire  formation  of  the  Presbytery,  before  a  lay  commissioner  accompan¬ 
ied  the  minister  to  the  Supreme  Judicatory  of  the  Church.  Since  that 
date  the  Presbytery  has  been  loyal  to  the  Presbyterian  position  of  equal 
representation  of  Ministers  and  Elders  in  all  Church  Judicatories  above 
the  Session  except  no  Elders  were  in  the  General  Assembly  of  1834.  It 
should  be  known,  however,  that  this  lay  delegate  was  present  because 
the  matter  of  representation  had  been  fully  discussed  by  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburgh,  one  of  the  largest,  strongest  and  most  energetic  Synods  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  October,  1831.  This  thorough  investiga¬ 
tion  showed  three  things:  1.  “That  the  disproportion  of  Ruling  Elders 
in  our  highest  and  most  responsible  church  judicatory  is  great  and  to  the 
due  preservation  of  our  system,  in  its  constitutional  provisions  alarming. 
2.  That  this  proportion  of  lay,  to  say  nothing  of  ministerial  represen¬ 
tation,  in  the  remote  parts  of  our  body  especially,  is  such  as  actually 
gives  the  powers  of  government  and  the  preponderance  of  influence  to 
a  minority  of  Presbyteries  and  Synods.  3.  That  periods  may  and  are 
likely  to  occur,  in  which  this  preponderance  will  be  ruinous  to  the  unity 
and  harmony  if  not  to  the  very  existence  of  the  church  itself.” 

In  view  of  these  things  so  repugnant  to  the  genius  of  our  Govern¬ 
ment  and  so  inauspicious  to  its  best  interests,  Synod  resolved: — 1st. 
“That  it  be  enjoined  on  the  several  Presbyteries  within  our  bounds,  to 
appoint  annually  their  full  proportion  of  Ruling  Elders  as  delegates  to 
the  General  Assembly  using  good  care  to  select  such  as  may  be  likely  to 
attend  and  employing  new  or  more  effective  measures  to  increase  the 
amount  raised  lor  the  commissioners’  fund  of  the  General  Assembly. 
2nd.  I  hat  it  be  recommended  to  the  Ministers  and  Presbyteries  to  in¬ 
culcate  more  frequent}'  the  solemn  duty  of  having  such  representatives 
secured,  and  to  the  latter  making  a  standing  rule  to  inquire  at  the  next 
stated  meeting,  after  each  General  Assembly,  the  reasons  for  delinquency 
in  attending  where  it  occurs  (requiring  the  personal  presence  in  Pres¬ 
byter}'  of  even'  such  delinquent)  and  pass  a  solemn  vote,  as  in  the 
sight  of  the  Lord  ot  Zion,  as  to  the  admissibility  and  sufficiency  of  such 
reasons  as  may  be  given,  first  as  to  the  principals  and  next  the  alter¬ 
nates.”  In  the  face  of  such  declaration  Allegheny  sent  its  first  lay  dele- 


23 


gate  Mr.  Joseph  Morrison  to  the  Assembly  in  1832.  The  alarm  referred 
to  above  was  well  founded  for  the  liberal  element  had  a  majority  in  the 
Assembly  of  the  very  year  Synod  adopted  its  resolution,  but  did  not  use 
the  advantage  which  the  majority  of  the  Presbyterians  permitted  to  fall 
into  their  hands.  The  liberals  held  control  of  the  Assemblies  of  1832, 
1833,  and  1834  and  took  advantage  of  their  superior  numbers.  The  re¬ 
fusal  of  the  liberal  majority  to  receive  the  “Act  and  Testimony”  pre¬ 
sented  by  the  conservatives  caused  a  reaction  which  placed  the  conserva¬ 
tives  in  control  of  the  Assembly  ot  1835  and  they  were  not  slow  in  using 
their  advantage  with  the  net  result  of  division  two  years  later. 


Church  Fathers  and  Early  Pastors 

1  he  fathers  of  the  Presbytery  and  many  of  its  earlier  ministers  had 
begun  their  preparation  for  the  ministry  after  they  had  reached  their 
majority  and  in  some  instances  leaving  their  trades  as  did  Rev.  Samuel 
Williams,  who  was  a  carpenter.  By  the  time  their  literary  and  theologi¬ 
cal  studies  were  completed,  the  exacting  trials  for  licensure  safely  passed 
and  several  months  itineration  in  vacant  churches  in  the  Presbytery  or 
in  regions  beyond,  much  of  the  buoyancy  and  pliability  of  youth  had 
been  exhausted  in  the  long  period  of  preparation.  Men  of  mature  con¬ 
viction  and  sturdy  character  were  they  and  the  overwhelming  sense  of 
responsibility,  amounting  in  exceptional  cases  to  morbidness,  which 
they  would  assume  at  ordination  and  in  accepting  a  pastorate  was  con¬ 
stantly  present  to  their  minds  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  for  good 
upon  their  entire  ministry.  They  were  more  like  John  the  Baptist  than 
like  Jesus  in  their  earnestness  and  fidelity. 

They  were  diligent,  often  laborious,  in  the  preparation  and  deliv¬ 
ery  of  their  sermons.  So  they  ever  sought  to  bring  the  finest  of  the 
wheat,  the  beaten  oil  to  their  congregations.  Their  output  yearly  was 
a  high  average.  Their  orthodoxy  bordering  on  the  austere  for  they  felt 
that  they  were  standing  between  God  and  man,  between  the  living  and 
the  dead.  Their  sermons  had  the  strong  denominational  flavor  and 
ring  so  much  desired  and  appreciated  in  those  days. 

Ministers  must  be  able  to  give  a  reason  for  the  hope  that  was  in 
them  and  be  able  to  state  and  defend  the  distinctive  principles  of  the 
denomination;  for  theirs  was  an  age  of  controversy.  Public  pulpit 
criticism  was  often  indulged  in.  Challenges  to  public  debate  were 
issued,  such  as  Rev.  Samuel  Crouse  to  Rev.  Isaiah  Niblock,  and  the 
latter’s  caustic  reply,  “Tarry  thou  at  Jericho  until  they  beard  is  grown,” 
or  that  of  Col.  IT  P.  Danks  and  Rev.  Ogden,  Rev.  Munson  and  Rev. 
Alfred  Brunson.  Denominational  strictness  and  devotion  were  virtues 
of  high  order.  No  exchange  of  ministerial  labors  between  denomina- 


24 


made 


tions  was  tolerated.  In  the  stricter  bodies  “occasional  hearing” 
one  liable  to  be  sessioned. 

These  watchmen  were  equally  faithful  in  pastoral  visitation  and 
catechetical  instruction  and  in  matters  requiring  discipline  they  sought 
to  be  just.  Nothing  was  withheld,  everything  was  bared,  written  down 
so  that  neither  of  the  parties  could  deny  the  facts  stated.  Severity 
rather  than  gentleness  mark  instances  but  is  in  keeping  with  the  times. 
In  addition  to  pulpit  and  pastoral  duties  the  fulfilling  of  the  appoint¬ 
ments  as  supply  as  directed  by  Presbytery,  assisting  upon  sacramental 
occasions  and  attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  Presbytery  and  Synod 
tried  these  seasoned  servants  of  God  almost  to  the  limit  of  endurance 
yet  they  accepted  it  all  as  the  duty  of  soldiers  of  the  Cross,  as  the  bur¬ 
den  of  the  day  and  as  those  who  must  give  an  account  of  their  steward¬ 
ship.  Such  leaders  were  not  without  their  faults  nor  were  their  con¬ 
gregations,  but  they  toiled  upon  the  foundations  and  others  have  built 
thereon.  “They  rest  from  their  labors  and  their  works  do  follow 
them."  W  hat  a  noble  heritage  has  come  down  to  Butler  Presbytery 
through  the  patience,  fidelity  and  devotion  of  its  founders  and  early 
ministers.  May  their  lives,  services  and  prayers  be  a  source  of  con¬ 
stant  inspiration  to  all  who  enter  into  their  labors  in  the  coming  years. 

This  brief  and  rapid  survey  ought  not  to  close  without  referring  to 
long  pastorates  in  the  order  in  which  they  began: 


Same 

Place 

Dates 

Years 

Reid  Bracken  . 

...Mt.  Nebo  . 

...April  20,  1808-january  2.  1844 . 

. 35 

John  Redick  . 

..Slate  Eick-L’nion  . 

...April  25,  1815-October  18,  1848 . 

. 33 

John  Munson  . 

..Center  . . 

...February  25,  1818-1  une  28,  1859 . 

. 41 

John  Coulter  . 

..Concord  . 

...Sept,  in,  1823-April  12,  1804 . 

. 40 

Loval  Young  . 

..Butler  . 

...December  4,  1833-April  29,  1868 . 

. 34 

Robert  B.  W  alker.. 

..Plain  Grove  . 

...April  2,  1839-Iune  2Y  1872 . 

. 33 

Ephraim  Ogden  . 

...Middlesex  . 

...November  14,  1848-Nov.  13,  1888... 

. .40 

J.  R.  Coulter . 

..Scrubgrass  . 

...August  25,  1857-Januarv  12,  1901... 

. 43 

\Y.  f  McConkev... . 

..Grove  Citv . 

...Nov.  17,  1875-December  13,  1910... 

. 35 

W  .  E.  Oiler . 

..Butler  . 

...Sept.  3d,  1882-December  14,  1909— 

. 27 

A  roster  of  ten  worthies  with  pastorates  ranging  from  twenty-seven 
to  forty-three  years  is  sufficient  honor  for  this  Presbytery,  for  any 
Presbytery.  I  his  honor  is  “an  exceeding  weight  of  glory”  when  we 
consider  that  six  of  these  were  life-long  pastorates  and  that  seven  of 
these  pastorates  have  been  wholly  within  the  present  century.  Yet 
there  is  a  tinge  of  sadness  in  the  fact  that  in  each  of  these  pastorates 
there  was  some  unrest  and  dissatisfaction  due  largely  to  the  increasing 
age  of  the  pastor  and  the  infirmities  accompanying  age.  New  condi¬ 
tions  were  developing,  a  new  generation  had  grown  up  and  strong, 
vigorous  ministers  were  sorely  needed  to  lead  congregations  into  more 
effective  service  but  to  the  high  honor  and  credit  of  the  congregations 
the  hearts  of  the  people  bore  tenderly  and  patiently  with  the  leaders 


who  had  given  their  best  and  their  all  to  the  flock  over  which  God  had 
made  them  overseers,  with  a  single  exception. 

Support  of  the  Pastor 

Paul’s  rule  to  the  Galatian  Christians,  ‘‘Let  him  that  is  taught  in 
the  W  ord  communicate  with  him  that  teacheth  in  all  good  things,”  was 
far  from  easy  for  pioneer  Presbyterian  families  who  were  themselves 
struggling  to  open  up  and  improve  their  farms  and  to  secure  the  com¬ 
mon  necessities  of  life  besides  sharing  in  the  expense  of  public  im¬ 
provement.  These  were  practically  compulsory  while  the  minister’s 
support  was  voluntary  and  an  addition  to  other  fixed  expenses.  Love 
for  the  minister  and  the  cause  he  represented  and  his  unselfish  devotion 
to  the  people’s  spiritual  interests  kept  the  people  mindful  of  their 
duty.  The  promised  stipend  was  small  and  often  pitifully  inadequate 
in  the  most  economical  pastor’s  household.  Revs.  Reid  Bracken,  John 
Munson,  Robert  McGarrah,  John  Coulter,  Ephraim  Ogden,  Samuel 
W  illiams  and  others  supplemented  their  slender  salaries  by  the  products 
from  farms  owned  and  tilled  by  their  own  hands. 

An  early  subscription  paper  is  of  special  interest  and  with  its 
quaint  spelling  is  as  follows:  “We  the  undersined  do  promis  to  pay 
unto  the  Rev.  John  Coulter  the  several  Sums  Anexed  to  our  names 
Anualy  for  the  forth  part  of  his  Ministerial  labors  in  Concord  Congre¬ 
gation  one  half  in  cash  the  other  half  in  wheat  at  67  cents  per  bushel 
and  rye  and  corn  at  40  cents  per  bushel  linen  cloth  at  40  cents  per 
yard  and  to  be  paid  half  yearly.  The  grain  to  be  delivered  in  John 


Neymans  Mill.  Given  under 

our 

hand  this  4th  day  of  June 

1824. 

Names 

Names 

Andrew  Christy  . . . . 

3. 

Samuel  Campbell  .... _ 

.  1.50 

David  Beaty . 

1 

Robert  Patten  _ 

.....  1 

William  Robb  _ _ _ 

1  50 

Flatt  Sutton  _ 

? 

William  C.  Moore.. . . . 

1 

John  Starr . - . 

. .  1  50 

John  Christy . . . . . 

1  50 

Jessie  Brown  . . . 

...  1  00 

William  Redick  . . . . 

1 

Thomas  Jackson  _ _ 

1  33 

7  00 

(or  two  bushels  of  wheat) 

13  33 

William  McGill  _ _ 

2 

Alexander  Anderson  _ _ 

1 

20  33 

13  33 

The  part  of  the  ministerial  labors  to  which  each  church  was  entitled 
is  carefully  stated  in  our  records,  but  it  was  not  until  October  16,  1866, 
that  the  amount  of  salary  promised  is  recorded.  It  was  the  “Call  of 
Bull  Creek  Church  for  one-half  of  the  ministerial  labors  of  Rev.  J.  F. 


26 


Bovd  containing  the  promise  of  a  salary  of  $600.00  with  free  use  of  the 
parsonage.”  From  outside  sources  it  is  certain  that  Rev.  John  Munson 
received  8300  at  Plain  Grove  and  $100  at  Center  in  his  prime.  And 
when  Plain  Grove  called  licentiate  Robert  B.  Walker  for  whole  time  in 
1839  it  made  the  sum  8400,  equal  to  that  received  by  Rev.  Munson  in 
the  two  churches.  Rev.  Loyal  Young  began  his  work  in  Butler  in 
1833  at  a  salary  of  $400.  When  it  is  recalled  that  the  purchasing 
power  of  money  was  greater  then  than  now,  these  promised  salaries 
free  the  congregations  from  any  insinuation  that  they  drove  hard  bar¬ 
gains  with  their  ministers.  Their  hearts  were  as  willing  to  promise 
then  as  now  but  to  pay  all  they  had  pledged  was  more  difficult  than  at 
the  present  time  because  their  opportunities  to  earn  were  very  limited. 

There  was  very  little  money  in  circulation  a  century  ago.  People 
did  not  buy  and  sell  but  traded  articles  or  commodities.  To  secure 
sufficient  money  to  pay  the  state  for  the  farms  or  to  pay  the  taxes 
were  matters  of  grave  concern  and  when  the  latter  had  been  secured  by 
hoarding  “bit  by  bit”  there  was  a  sigh  of  relief  and  a  sense  of  ease  such 
as  when  a  family  found  it  had  “enough  wheat  to  bread  it  for  a  year.” 
The  pastor  was  usually  compelled  to  wait  for  his  portion  until  the  taxes 
were  provided  because  the  latter  must  be  paid  and  formed  first  lien 
on  all  productive  activity.  Pastors  might  not  worry  about  the  sum 
promised  but  it  was  paid  him  so  irregularly  and  in  such  driblets  that 
he  had  not  the  full  benefits  of  his  salary.  In  spite  of  this  lack  of 
method,  the  congregation  insisted  that  its  pastor  be  educated,  dignified 
and  courteous,  that  he  appear  before  the  people  neat  and  tidy,  dressed 
in  a  frock  coat,  choker  and  cravat,  and  his  family,  often  a  large  one, 
be  clothed  as  became  a  pastor’s  rank  and  standing.  To  drive  the  wolf 
from  the  door,  to  secure  proper  clothing  and  keep  the  required  social 
status  caused  many  secret  conferences  in  the  pastor’s  home.  Most 
pastors  suffered  long  and  in  silence  until  compelled  by  dire  need  to 
ask  their  people  for  the  salary  long  since  earned,  in  order  to  secure 
proper  clothing.  The  more  sensitive  pastors  were  all  the  more  humili¬ 
ated  by  such  occasions. 

Arrears  to  the  pastor  were  a  constant  source  of  vexation  to  pastors 
and  a  continual  annoyance  to  those  who  were  charged  to  secure  the 
pastor's  salary  from  year  to  year.  The  records  of  Presbytery  show 
that  man\'  churches  were  in  debt  habitually  to  their  pastors.  The 
length  of  the  pastorates,  long  or  short,  popular  or  average,  seemed  to 
make  little  difference.  Strongest  and  wealthiest  and  weakest  churches 
had  fallen  under  this  baneful  habit.  I  lere  is  a  page  selected  at  random 
and  is  for  the  vear  1841  : 


Plain  Grove  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Walker.. . $314.53 

Middlesex  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Kerr .  33.25 


Slate  Lick  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Redick .  66.88 

Center  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Munson .  206.75 

Muddy  Creek  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Coulter .  333.95 

Concord  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Coulter .  157.89^ 

Freeport  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Caldwell. .  263.9954 

Tarentum  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Caldwell .  293.70 

Portersville  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Caldwell. . . .  44.46 

Licking  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Core .  309.05 

Rehoboth  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Core..... .  189.76 

Bethesda  in  arrears  to  Rev.  Turbitt .  23.00 


The  congregations  of  Bull  Creek.  Harrisville,  Butler,  Callensburg, 
East  Concord,  Cross  Roads  and  Plains  paid  their  respective  pastors  in 
full. 

In  the  earlier  records  pastors  or  churches  frequently  requested  the 
Presbytery  to  diminish  the  portion  of  the  pastor’s  services  from  one- 
hall  to  one-third,  or  from  one-third  to  one-fourth  or  one-sixth.  This 
clearly  shows  that  the  pastors  were  not  paid  or  the  congregations 
acknowledged  their  inability  to  pay  sufficient  salary  for  the  portion  of 
services  named  in  the  call.  This  process  relieved  the  congregation  but 
reduced  the  pastor’s  salary  by  so  much  and  in  effect  increased  his  bur¬ 
den.  One  of  the  earliest  illustrations  is  that  of  Rev.  John  McPherrin, 
the  first  pastor  of  this  church  in  which  we  are  meeting,  who  was  per¬ 
mitted  to  reduce  his  service  from  whole  time  to  three-fourths.  In  such 
cases  requests  were  made  to  supply  vacant  churches  or  to  itinerate  out¬ 
side  the  bounds  of  Presbytery  for  the  unused  time,  in  order  to  secure 
the  simplest  necessities  of  life.  Such  records  speak  a  language  that 
touches  the  heart  too  deeply  for  description.  Rev.  Abraham  Boyd, 
one  of  the  original  ministers  of  Presbytery,  resigned  from  Middlesex 
Church  for  lack  of  support  and  the  scholarly  Rev.  Lemuel  F.  Leake 
from  Mt.  Nebo  for  the  same  reason. 

The  securing  of  salary  for  the  pastor  was  not  only  a  matter  of 
grave  concern  to  the  pastor  but  also  for  those  who  loved  the  church 
and  its  services  best.  The  annual  subscription  paper  registered  the 
standing  of  the  pastor  in  the  hearts  of  the  congregation  as  unerringly 
as  a  barometer  does  the  weather.  If  the  pastor  was  popular  the  salary 
was  quickly  subscribed,  but  if  his  popularity  had  suffered  an  eclipse 
the  stipends  were  reduced  and  in  some  instances  families  refused  to 
promise  support  to  one  who  had  forfeited  their  respect  or  confidence. 
Whether  such  action  was  fair  or  unjust  the  pastor  suffered  not  only 
pecuniary  loss  but  recognized  that  the  steady  pressure  of  the  influence 
of  such  a  family  or  families  was  arrayed  against  him  within  the  I  louse- 
hold  of  Faith,  which  was  vastly  harder  to  overcome  than  equal  influ¬ 
ence  outside  the  church  membership.  This  method  of  starving  out  a 


28 


pastor  very  often  succeeded  and  accounts  for  some  of  the  strange  com¬ 
binations  of  churches  in  the  early  pastorates.  Again  and  again  one  or 
two  churches  in  a  pastoral  group  was  satisfied  and  contented  under  the 
pastor,  the  dissatisfied  church  either  compelled  the  pastor  to  withdraw 
from  the  whole  charge  or  to  resign  that  particular  church  and  seek 
work  in  another  church  in  easy  reach.  W  here  a  pastor  was  inclined 
to  stand  for  his  rights  and  Presbytery  was  unable  to  compose  the  op¬ 
position.  the  pastor  however  efficient  and  lovable,  withdrew  for  the 
sake  of  peace  hoping  that  a  new  minister  would  keep  the  flock  united. 

For  some  vears  prior  to  1867  Presbytery  had  insisted  that  a  mini¬ 
mum  salarv  be  not  less  than  $500.  When  it  is  realized  that  in  1858  the 
wages  for  common  labor  were  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  cents  a  day 
and  that  a  bushel  of  wheat  was  the  pay  for  a  day’s  cradling,  we  have 
a  standard  of  comparison  with  the  minister’s  wage.  After  the  close  of 
the  Civil  War  high  prices  prevailed  as  they  have  done  in  recent  years 
and  in  April.  1867.  Presbytery  adopted  the  report  of  a  committee  on 
ministerial  support:  “Whereas,  in  the  last  few  years  all  the  necessaries 
and  comforts  of  life  have  at  least  doubled  in  price  rendering  it  virtu- 
all}'  impossible  for  the  pastors  of  various  congregations  within  the 
bounds  of  this  Presbytery,  therefore  be  it  resolved,  1.  1  hat  no  pastor 
shall  give  his  whole  time  for  less  than  from  8800  to  $1,000  and 
that  all  the  congregations  already  settled  on  less  than  the  sums  above 
stated  be  and  are  hereby  earnestly  requested  to  raise  their  pastor’s 
salarv  to  the  above  standard.  Resolved  2.  That  the  above  resolution 
be  read  in  all  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  and  that  the  churches  be 
directed  to  report  their  action  thereon  at  the  next  regular  meeting  of 
Presbytery.’’  Who  with  a  heart  to  understand  can  read  this  appeal  for 
justice  and  not  realize  what  it  must  have  cost  the  ministers  who  were 
accustomed  to  maintain  dignified  silence  as  to  their  salaries,  to  throw 
themselves  on  the  mercies  of  their  parishioners. 

Presbytery  also  insisted  that  all  indebtedness  to  the  late  pastor 
be  paid  before  another  pastor  could  be  settled.  Often  the  pastor  com¬ 
promised  with  his  debtors  because  of  pressing  need  of  real  money  just 
as  banks  or  business  firms  that  have  failed  to  arrange  with  their 
creditors.  Or  if  the  pastor  insisted  on  his  pound  of  flesh  or  the  utter¬ 
most  farthing  the  congregation  often  resorted  to  the  makeshift  of 
having  services  half  or  third  time  yet  continuing  their  annual  pledges. 
Eventually  the  congregation  would  free  itself,  but  it  suffered  losses  that 
cannot  be  reckoned  in  dollars.  This  also  accounts  for  some  of  the 
long  vacancies  recorded  in  our  minutes.  I  he  Episcopal,  Catholic  and 
Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  do  not  tolerate  such  an  anomaly. 

Pastoral  support  is  a  vexed  question  now  and  of  wide  reaching 
effect.  \\  hen  shall  we  adopt  Christ’s  words,  “the  laborer  is  worthy 
of  his  hirer”  To  set  a  minimum  smacks  of  labor  union  methods.  Not 


29 


to  do  so  worthy  ministers  suffer.  Large  salaries  might  attract  less 
consecrated  young  men.  Some  ministers  receive  all  or  more  than 
they  earn  in  the  Lord’s  service.  These  are  few  and  exceptional,  while 
the  vast  majority  love  their  work  and  trust  their  Lock  to  supply  the 
necessities.  “They  that  minister  at  the  altar  shall  live  by  the  altar.” 

In  this  connection  a  few  words  may  be  permitted  as  to  the  pay¬ 
ment  of  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  Presbytery.  From  1832  to  1861  the 
Stated  Clerk  received  1  iy2  cents  per  page  for  transcribing  the  minutes. 
From  1862  to  1866  he  was  paid  25  cents  per  page;  from  1866  to  1888 
the  pay  was  raised  to  50  cents  a  page.  Up  to  1888  the  payment  of  the 
Stated  Clerk  was  collected  from  the  mebmers  at  the  meeting  at  which 
a  settlement  was  made.  It  was  in  1888,  one  hundred  years  after  the 
agreement  to  form  a  National  Presbyterian  Assembly,  that  Butler 
Presbytery  voted  to  pay  Rev.  J.  R.  Coulter  fifty  dollars  a  year  and 
necessary  expenses  and  include  this  salary  in  the  Assembly  Fund  con¬ 
tributed  bv  all  the  churches.  This  annual  payment  was  made  until 
191 1  when  the  present  arrangement  was  adopted.  The  Presbytery  had 
a  splendid  retinue  of  Stated  Clerks  from  Reid  Bracken  to  J.  R-  Coulter, 
whom  Dr.  Roberts  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  careful,  methodical  and 
trustworthy  in  the  entire  Presbvterian  Church. 


Church  Buildings 

Human  nature  possesses  a  natural  instinct  for  hospitality.  It  in¬ 
tuitively  seeks  to  provide  the  best  shelter,  food  and  fellowship  for  the 
stranger  and  the  invited  guest.  In  the  Hebrew  and  Christian  religions 
this  instinct  is  cultivated  and  shines  brightest.  David  well  expressed 
this  desire  one  day  w  hile  conferring  with  his  religious  adviser,  Nathan 
the  Prophet:  “See  now  I  dwell  in  a  house  of  cedars  but  the  Ark  of 
God  dwelleth  within  curtains.”  And  the  prophet  approving,  bade  the 
king:  “Go,  do  all  this  in  thine  heart  for  the  Lord  is  with  thee.”  In 
the  same  spirit  and  with  equal  devotion  did  the  pioneer  settlers  seek 
to  make  the  buildings  where  a  grateful  people  met  to  worship  the 
living  and  true  God,  equal  to  or  better  than  their  own  dwellings. 

I  he  first  church  buildings  were  near  the  routes  most  traveled  and 
near  unfailing  springs.  These  rude  structures  of  round  logs  were  about 
sixteen  feet  square.  The  roofs  were  of  clap  boards  held  in  place  by 
heavy  poles  as  weights  for  iron  nails  were  too  expensive.  No  floors 
other  than  the  earth;  no  ceiling  or  heat  graced  these  primitive  struc¬ 
tures.  With  round  logs  for  seats,  a  doorway,  often  without  a  door, 
and  two  or  three  small  openings  for  light,  these  buildings  were  at  best 
only  shelters  from  storms  and  severe  weather.  During  the  summer  the 
services  were  conducted  in  the  shade  of  the  huge  trees  near  the  church 
building.  And  it  was  nothing  unusual  for  a  man  whose  limbs  were 


30 


cramped  from  sitting  or  almost  overcome  with  drowsiness  to  rise  and 
pace  back  and  forth  reverently  on  the  outskirts  of  the  crowd  and  return 
quietly  to  his  seat,  yet  not  missing  a  word  of  the  discourse.  The 
mothers  did  so  to  quiet  a  restless  or  sleepy  child,  and  why  should  men 
not  do  so  too.  Might  this  privilege  be  still  exercised  where  buildings 
are  air  tight  or  poorly  ventilated,  especially  when  the  pastor’s  cadences 
rise  and  fall  with  the  monotonous  regularity  of  a  lullaby  and  act  as  a 
soporific. 

As  the  settlements  enlarged  these  square  buildings  soon  were  over¬ 
crowded  with  worshipers  until  many  not  finding  seats  loitered  out¬ 
side  and  the  continual  murmur  of  conversation  annoyed  the  worshipers. 
Besides  it  cultivated  a  bad  habit.  To  meet  the  demand  for  sittings 
for  all  who  attended  the  services  a  new  form  of  architecture  was  mak¬ 
ing  its  appearance  about  the  time  Allegheny  Presbytery  was  organized. 
It  was  a  crude  immitation  of  the  grand  old  Cathedrals  of  England, 
Scotland  and  the  Continent  and  was  a  triumph  over  mechanical  diffi¬ 
culties.  Accompanying  is  a  general  diagram. 


Scale  10  feet  to  inch  or  20x30. 


A  few  of  the  first  buildings,  experimental  structures,  were  of  round 
logs,  but  the  later  ones  were  built  of  hewn  logs  30x40,  roofed  with  joint 

31 


oak  shingles,  floored  and  ceiled.  These  churches  had  three  entrances, 
and  ten  windows  of  small  panes  of  glass.  The  pews  were  on  either 
side  of  the  aisle,  facing  the  high  pulpit,  which  was  placed  in  the  opposite 
end  from  the  front  of  the  building.  All  the  nails  in  such  buildings 
were  made  by  the  local  blacksmith.  Often  the  only  heating  stove  was 
in  the  center  of  the  room. 

About  1840  there  was  need  for  still  larger  buildings  owing  to  the 
increased  population.  The  original  congregations  had  prospered 
greatly,  their  parishes  being  from  four  to  eight  miles  square,  and  it 
was  these  churches  that  determined  to  arise  and  build  houses  of  worship 
worthy  of  their  wealth,  culture  and  zeal  for  the  Lord.  Only  buttressed 
brick  walls  could  give  the  desired  length  and  this  became  possible 
without  internal  pillars  or  supporting  columns  because  the  self-support¬ 
ing  roof  and  ceiling  had  been  devised,  a  no  mean  achievement  for  any 
age.  Some  specimens,  such  as  the  Middlesex,  Mt.  Nebo,  Portersville, 
Muddy  Creek  and  Concord  churches,  survive  to  this  day  as  living 
monuments  to  the  skill  and  fidelity  of  the  contractors,  and  the  taste  and 
good  judgment  of  the  building  committees.  Portersville  is  the  only  one 
of  these  surviving  brick  structures  that  had  four  doors.  Two  in  the 
end  opposite  the  pulpit  and  one  in  each  side  wall  opening  into  the 
aisle  which  passed  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  In  these  churches  there  was 
a  central  double  block  of  pews  and  an  equal  number  of  pews,  single 
lengths,  against  the  side  walls  except  in  the  space  needed  for  the  four 
stoves  used  to  heat  the  buildings,  also  a  block  of  pews  facing  the  pulpit 
on  the  right  and  left,  which  were  often  called  amen  corners.  These 
pews  were  as  straight  backed  as  old  New  England  chairs  and  the  flat 
and  narrow  seats  were  not  designed  for  the  special  comfort  of  the  legs 
of  small  boys  or  the  listener  who  was  dying  by  inches  for  a  nap. 

The  following  brick  churches  of  this  type,  Plains,  Zelienople,  Mt. 
Nebo,  Portersville,  Plain  Grove  and  Center  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Presbytery;  Bull  Creek,  Westminster,  Middlesex,  Parker  and  perhaps 
others  in  other  parts  of  an  extensive  Presbytery  belong  to  this  period. 
All  these  buildings  were  erected  before  organizations  had  begun  to 
multiply  within  the  churches  so  that  all  available  space  was  needed  and 
utilized  for  pews  for  overflowing  congregations.  There  was  not,  in  any 
of  these  brick  buildings,  a  small  room  to  which  a  mother  could  retire 
with  her  fretful  child  in  stormy  or  winter  weather.  Yet  these  severely 
plain  interiors  are  considered  superior  in  acoustic  properties,  to  the 
costly  and  architecturally  beautiful  modern  edifices  which  are  so  splen¬ 
didly  arranged  and  equipped  with  every  modern  convenience  for  the 
multifarious  activities  of  a  community  or  institutional  church.  Not 
one  of  the  daughters  of  these  brick  churches  reared  brick  buildings;  all 
built  frame  buildings. 


32 


Matter  and  Manner  of  Praise 

The  praise  of  God  in  psalms,  hymns  and  spiritual  songs  is  a  New 
Testament  formula  and  the  Christian  Church  has  always  excelled  in  the 
purity  and  excellence  of  this  part  of  worship.  The  principle  that  has 
guided  all  improvements  in  praise  was  excellently  stated  by  a  commit¬ 
tee  reporting  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1820  in  these  words: 
“Psalmody  in  all  ages  has  been  considered  a  most  important  part  of 
the  worship  of  God.  The  Church  has  therefore  ever  been  careful  to  pre¬ 
serve  its  purity  for  the  edification  of  her  members.’’  Next  in  power 
and  influence  to  the  Word  of  God  is  the  book  of  praise,  for  what  the 
congregation  sings  moulds  its  life.  All  Presbyterian  bodies,  Covenanter 
Associate,  Associate  Reformed,  and  Presbyterian,  used  Rouse’s  Version. 
Then  Watts  “Imitation  of  David’s  Psalms’’  was  adopted  by  many 
liberal  or  progressive  ministers  and  their  congregations  and  the  Synod 
allowed  their  use,  yet  so  bitter  and  uncharitable  were  the  strictures  made 
bv  ministers  and,  no  doubt,  elders  and  members  on  both  sides,  that  in 
1787,  two  years  before  the  organization  of  the  General  Assembly,  min¬ 
isters  were  cautioned  “to  be  more  tender  and  charitable  on  these  heads.” 
The  first  important  deliverance  on  the  subject  was  by  the  General  As¬ 
sembly  of  1802,  which  allowed  the  use  of  Watts  hymns  “in  such  con¬ 
gregations  as  may  think  it  expedient  to  use  them  in  public  and  social 
worship."  The  same  Assembly  also  allowed  the  use  of  Dr.  Timothy 
Dwight’s  revision  of  Watts  Psalms,  with  additions  and  a  selection  of 
hymns  made  by  Dr.  Dwight.  This  introduction  of  hymns  into  the 
book  of  praise  was  largely  effected,  no  doubt,  by  the  great  revival  of 
1800.  With  such  a  variety  of  books  of  praise  and  the  confusion  and 
contention  arising  therefrom,  the  Assembly  of  1820  appointed  a  com¬ 
mittee  “to  digest  and  prepare  a  uniform  book  of  Psalmody.”  The 
result  of  this  labor,  The  Book  of  Psalms  and  I  Iymns,  was  approved  and 
allowed  in  1830.  I  he  effect  of  the  discussion  following  this  action  aid¬ 
ed  by  unyielding  conservatives  in  the  use  of  “Rouse’s  Version.”  caused 
many  members  to  withdraw  from  the  Presbyterian  Churches  and  unite 
with  stricter  churches  which  permitted  only  the  use  of  “Rouse’s  Ver¬ 
sion.”  In  some  cases,  such  as  L’nity  and  Ebenezer,  a  part  of  these  con¬ 
gregations  and  the  whole  of  Bear  Creek,  Deer  Creek,  and  the  Presby¬ 
terian  congregation  near  North  Washington  went  over  to  an  Associated 
Reformed  Presbytery.  I  his  step  was  doubtless  hastened  bv  the  theo¬ 
logical  controversies  that  led  up  to  the  division  of  1837. 

In  1838  the  Psalms  and  Hymns  were  ordered  revised,  no  doubt  to 
expunge  every  trace  ot  New  England  theology  and  heresy  expressed  or 
implied  in  the  hymns  used.  I  his  revision  was  completed  in  1843  and 
authorized,  and  was  a  decided  advance  over  the  preceding  edition. 
One  important  improvement  should  have  special  mention,  namely,  that 
“Appropriate  music  be  appended  to  such  portion  of  edition  of  said 


33 


Book  of  Psalmody  as  may  appear  expedient  to  the  Board  of  Publica¬ 
tion,”  This  is  the  beginning  of  placing  the  tunes  in  connection  with 
the  words.  This  edition  was  revised  in  1866  and  the  Apostles’  Creed, 
the  Ten  Commandments,  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  the  Shorter  Catechism  and 
the  Directory  for  Worship  were  made  an  appendix. 

When  the  Old  and  New  School  branches  united  in  1870  a  new  Book 
of  Praise  was  at  once  a  necessity,  a  means  of  cementing,  confirming  and 
making  effective  the  union  just  consumated.  The  result  was  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  Hymnal  which  was  adopted  in  1874  and  was  used  almost  ex¬ 
clusively  until  “The  Hymnal”  was  produced  in  1895.  A  revised  edition 
of  “The  Hymnal”  was  authorized  in  1905.  The  improvement  of  the 
matter  of  praise  has  been  abreast,  often  in  advance,  of  the  general  cul¬ 
ture  and  taste  of  the  people.  We  now  have  a  Book  of  Praise  whose 
variety,  purity  of  diction,  loyalty  to  Biblical  teaching  is  unsurpassed,  a 
great  achievement  of  the  century. 

A  corresponding  advance  is  shown  in  the  manner  of  praise  and  the 
growth  has  been  co-ordinate  and  mutual.  The  one  could  not  make  a 
distinct  advance  without  exerting  a  powerful  influence  on  its  partner  in 
this  progress.  Acceptable  praise  to  God  is  “singing  and  making  melody 
in  your  heart  to  the  Lord.”  When  Allegheny  Presbytery  was  formed  in 
1821,  the  music  was  very  slow  and  deliberate,  almost  austere,  as  was 
everything  else  in  the  worship.  Then  two  clerks  sat  just  in  front  of 
the  pulpit  and  these  at  first  used  the  only  book  of  praise  in  the  church. 
One  man  intoned  or  lined  out  one  or  two  lines  as  was  the  custom,  and 
the  other  man  “raised  the  tune.”  The  tunes  were  few,  the  sacred 
“Seven  Tunes”  or  the  good  old  “four  and  twenty,”  and  were  not  always 
felicitously'  chosen.  They  were  often  pitched  too  high,  at  other  times  too 
low,  sometimes  in  the  upper  register  in  a  nasal  tone  peculiarly  char¬ 
acteristic  of  Psalm  tunes,  or  in  a  falsetto.  The  music  was  not  measured, 
melodious  or  a  joy  because  the  congregation  “dragged  miserably.” 
Consciences,  not  nerves,  were  tender  in  those  days.  Improvements  be¬ 
gan  to  make  their  appearance  in  more  progressive  communities  and 
were  regarded  as  an  invention  of  the  dev  il  in  conservative  congregations. 
The  tuning  fork,  the  choir  seated  in  the  rear  of  the  church  building  and 
a  choir  leader  came  in  due  order.  Many  beautiful,  though  untrained 
voices  were  found  in  nearly  every  congregation.  1  hese  sweet  singers 
were  as  inspiring  and  helpful  and  as  much  enjoyed  as  the  most  culti¬ 
vated  voices  in  the  paid  choirs  of  today.  Hearty  enthusiastic  congrega¬ 
tional  singing  became  possible  because  the  people  had  been  trained  in 
the  essentials  of  music  by  such  leaders  as  James  Borland,  Lyman 
Leason  and  others.  Then  the  anthem  was  added  to  the  morning  ser¬ 
vice,  and  it  was  gradually  followed  by  quartet,  duet  and  solo  in  the  order 
named.  The  introduction  of  the  reed  organ  in  the  homes  was  the  sig¬ 
nal  to  impress  it  into  the  services  of  the  sanctuary.  With  what  opposi- 


tion  and  results  we  are  familiar.  All  other  musical  instruments  have 
brought  their  tribute  to  the  worship  of  the  Lord’s  house  so  that  we  have 
a  balanced  and  dignified  service  as  befits  the  worship  of  the  living  and 
true  God. 

The  revivals  in  our  churches  and  throughout  our  land  in  1857-1861 
awakened  an  earnest  desire  for  hymns  and  music  especially  suited  for 
evangelistic  services  and  social  worship.  Mr.  Dwight  L.  Moody  placed 
great  stress  upon  music  in  evangelistic  meetings  and  made  a  collection 
of  hymns  that  were  overflowing  with  gospel  and  its  invitations.  To 
these  he  kept  adding  new  songs  with  a  chorus  and  used  them  with  telling 
power  in  his  meetings.  Mrs.  Fanny  Crosby  wrote  many  soul  stirring 
songs  and  these  were  provided  with  appropriate  music  by  such  com¬ 
posers  as  P.  P.  Bliss,  C.  C.  Converse,  W  F.  Sherwin  and  I.  D.  Sankey, 
and  these  compilations  became  known  as  Gospel  Hymns  No.  1-6. 
Later  E.  O.  Excall,  James  McGranahan  and  others  have  added  much 
useful  and  helpful  material.  The  quality  and  character  of  both  the 
words  and  the  music  have  been  rapidly  declining  in  recent  years  until 
catch}'  airs,  ragtime  and  jazz  music  have  invaded  the  services  of  the 
sanctuary  and  in  not  a  few  instances  displaced  the  hymns  and  tunes 
that  most  fully  express  our  love  for  God  and  1 1  is  worship.  The  end 
is  not  yet  and  a  final  appraisement  is  not  encouraging. 


Internal  Difficulties 

These  were  many  and  varied  in  character.  They  exhibited  the 
vices  and  some  of  the  virtues  of  the  new  settlements.  They  are  true  to 
Scotch-1  rish  insistence  and  persistence  and  show  a  great  unwillingness 
to  make  concession  in  order  to  secure  peace.  These  disorders  had  a 
very  injurious,  often  a  disastrous,  effect  upon  the  spiritual  life  and  har¬ 
mony  of  the  neighborhoods  and  churches  and  frequently  engaged  the 
attention  of  Presbytery  by  reference,  complaint  or  appeal.  These 
troubles  may  be  classified  in  the  following  groups: — 1.  Differences  be¬ 
tween  church  members.  Charges  of  drunkenness,  slander,  fornication, 
adulter}',  lying,  theft,  false  testimony,  etc.,  are  quite  common,  especially 
in  the  earlier  records.  2.  Difficulties  in  the  congregation.  Tactions 
growing  out  of  disputes  between  individuals  imperiled  the  life  and  use¬ 
fulness  of  the  church.  Sometimes  an  Elder  incurred  strong  opposition, 
whether  justly  or  unjustly,  from  the  membership  until  his  influence 
v  as  destroyed.  Occasionally  petitions  were  presented  insisting  upon 
the  resignation  of  pastors,  or  pastors  felt  aggrieved  toward  the  Elders 
or  a  portion  of  the  flock. 

Often  committees  of  the  strongest  and  most  peace  loving  ministers 
and  elders  were  sent  to  compose  differences.  Great  respect  for  the 
ministry  and  the  powerful  and  wholesome  influences  which  ministers 


35 


and  pious  elders  exerted  over  the  minds  and  lives  of  the  people  together 
with  a  day’s  conference  and  prayer  with  the  litigious  usually  mollified 
the  disputants,  reduced  the  points  at  issue  to  a  minimum,  with  the  result 
that  a  reconciliation,  a  compromise  or  a  permanent  truce  was  effected. 
If  a  reconciliation  could  not  be  effected,  this  committee  was  empowered 
to  demand  that  charges  be  preferred  at  once  and  the  trial  completed. 
This  prompt  and  summary  judgment  had  a  salutary  effect  upon  the 
litigants  and  created  a  wholesome  respect  throughout  the  Presbytery 
for  a  committee  of  visitation. 

Many  questions  were  overtured  to  Presbytery  for  solution.  Some 
samples  will  illustrate  the  nature  of  many  similar  inquiries.  “Would 
it  be  consistent  with  the  Constitution  of  our  Church  for  Elders  of  a 
Church  to  test  their  acceptability  with  the  people  by  a  public  vote?” 
“A  man  is  married  to  his  deceased  wife’s  sister,  may  they  be  received 
into  the  Communion  of  the  Church?”  "Is  it  in  accordance  with  the 
Standards  and  L'sages  of  the  Church  for  non-communing  baptized  per¬ 
sons  to  lead  in  the  exercises  of  public  praise?”  "Does  the  Government 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  permit  one  minister  to  preach  in  the  bounds 
of  another’s  charge  without  permission?  and  is  it  consistent  with  Pres¬ 
byterianism  or  will  it  tend  to  the  peace  and  unity  of  the  Church  for 
one  minister  residing  within  another’s  charge  to  elect  at  all  times  to 
select  as  his  places  of  worship  any  or  all  of  the  Churches  belonging  to 
other  denominations  in  the  vicinity?”  Is  it  consistent  for  a  professor 
of  religion  to  open  a  boarding  house  for  those  attending  a  camp  meeting 
and  to  sell  provisions  and  to  receive  money  on  the  Sabbath  Day  to  the 
neglect  of  the  Mouse  of  God?” 

Advices,  references  and  appeals  presented  by  individuals,  sessions 
and  ministers  occupy  altogether  too  large  a  space  in  the  records.  Pres¬ 
bytery  faced  these  very  unpleasant  things  calmly  and  honestly  and 
sought  to  deal  fairly  and  justly  with  all  persons  involved-  In  such 
cases  all  parties  were  rarely  satisfied  with  the  decisions  made  and  there 
is  evidence  that  many  congregations  were  plagued  by  the  dissatisfied 
disputants. 

Ministers  and  licentiates  were  no  small  source  of  vexation  to  the 
Presbytery.  They  did  not  always  observe  proprieties.  At  the  organ¬ 
ization  of  Allegheny  Presbytery  a  committee  was  appointed  whose  duty 
was  to  examine  the  credentials  of  all  ministers  or  licentiates  who  de¬ 
sired  to  exercise  their  gifts  within  the  Presbytery.  In  self  defense 
against  such  poachers  the  following  resolution  was  adopted,  October  7, 
1840:  “That  this  Presbytery  will  report  all  ministers  and  licentiates 
to  their  Presbyteries  as  disorderly  who  engage  in  ministerial  work  within 
our  bounds  without  the  consent  of  the  proper  committee  of  Presbytery.” 
And  they  made  good  their  word  as  the  following  instances  show.  Rev. 
N.  R.  Snowden  was  reported  to  the  Redstone  Presbytery,  Mr.  William 


36 


Me  Michael  to  Erie  Presbytery,  Mr.  John  V.  Miller  to  Washington 
Presbytery  and  Rev.  John  Rutherford  was  denied  “permission  to  labor 
in  our  bounds  because  he  has  failed  to  furnish  official  information  as 
to  his  standing  in  his  own  Presbytery  though  repeatedly  requested  to 
do  so.”  Rev.  D.  H.  Laverty  was  refused  the  privilege  of  laboring  in 
Harrisville,  New  Hope  and  Pleasant  Valley  Churches  in  1886. 

The  credentials  of  all  foreign  ministers  were  carefully  scrutinized 
and  thev  were  examined  minutely  in  theology  and  in  experimental 
religion  and  were  treated  as  licentiates  before  admission  to  the  Pres- 
bytery.  One  such  minister  was  the  Rev-  Joseph  Johnston,  a  member  of 
Richmond  Presbyter}',  New  Brunswick,  Canada,  who  became  a  thorn 
in  the  flesh  in  1832-1834.  In  September,  1832,  he  was  granted  the 
privilege  to  labor  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  and  at  the 
request  of  Freeport  and  Tarentum  congregations  was  appointed  to 
supply  them  for  six  weeks,  and  two  Sabbaths  at  Bear  Creek  at  his  dis¬ 
cretion.  The  next  spring  he  was  permitted  to  supply  Bear  Creek,  Eben- 
ezer  and  Unit}'  until  the  June  meeting.  But  at  this  meeting  his  request 
to  renew  this  permission  was  laid  on  the  table  only  to  come  up  at 
the  September  meeting  with  the  addition  that  arrangements  be  made  to 
call  Rev.  Johnston  as  pastor.  Excitement  ran  high  in  these  congrega¬ 
tions  and  the  Presbytery  stated  its  reasons  very  clearly.  Rev.  Johnston 
renewed  his  application  to  be  received  and  after  due  deliberation  Pres¬ 
bytery  by  an  unanimous  vote  refused  the  application  on  what  was  deem¬ 
ed  sufficient  grounds.  The  final  outcome  of  this  contention  was  that 
the  churches  of  Lnity  and  Ebenezer  were  rent  in  twain.  All  of  Bear 
Creek  but  five  families  and  one  elder  and,  if  the  statements  in  a  History 
of  Butler  Count}'  are  correct,  a  congregation  near  North  Washington, 
withdrew.  I  hese  congregations.  Bear  Creek,  Parker,  West  Unity  and 
Mt.  \  arnum  together  with  their  leader,  Rev.  Johnston  were  received 
by  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of  at  a 

meeting  in  Mercer,  Pa.,  May,  1834.  I  hese  churches  were  served  by 
Rev.  Johnston  until  1837  when  he  returned  to  Ireland,  and  they  con¬ 
tinued  as  Associate  Reformed  Churches  until  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  was  formed  in  1858.  The  Parker  division  has  long  been  ex¬ 
tinct  and  the  Mt.  \  arnum  Church  was  dissolved  two  years  ago.  The 
Bear  Creek  Church  is  now  Eairview  United  Presbyterian  Church- 

The  ministers  have  not  all  been  above  reproach.  They  possessed 
like  passions  as  other  men  and  were  as  susceptible  to  temptations.  For 
a  minister  to  step  aside  from  the  high  moral  rectitude  becoming  an 
o\  erseei  and  voluntary  leader  of  a  trustful  hock  or  to  be  charged  with 
immorality,  great  reproach  falls  upon  that  minister  for  breach  of  faith 
and  loyalty  to  his  Master  and  to  the  flock  over  which  he  was  appointed 
overseer.  Great  injury  comes  upon  the  church  which  the  delinquent 
served.  Eight  ministers,  one  twice,  have  stood  before  the  bar  of  Pres- 


37 


bytery  accused  of  conduct  unbecoming  a  Christian  Minister  during  the 
century.  In  two  instances  appeals  were  taken  and  sustained  by  Synod. 
In  all  these  cases  the  painful  duties  were  performed  by  the  Presbytery 
with  that  sense  of  fairness  and  that  love  of  right  and  the  restoration  of 
the  offenders  as  befits  a  Court  of  Jesus  Christ  and  in  the  spirit  of  Paul’s 
words,  "Brethren  if  a  man  be  overtaken  in  a  fault,  ye  which  are  spiritual 
restore  such  a  one  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  considering  thyself  lest  thou 
also  be  tempted." 


Sabbath 

The  mind  of  the  Presbytery  is  most  clearly  seen  and  expressed  in 
those  things  that  directly  affect  the  spirit  and  life  of  the  churches  under 
its  care.  One  of  the  most  vital  local  interests  was  the  Sabbath  and  its 
proper  observance.  This  divinely  appointed  institution  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  a  correct  proportion  of  work  and  rest  and  to  prevent  man’s 
inherent  greediness  from  enslaving  himself  or  others.  It  is  also  essen¬ 
tial  to  the  mental  and  moral  health  of  the  individual,  society  and  gov¬ 
ernment.  “Six  days  shalt  thou  labor  and  do  all  thy  work,  but  the 
seventh  day  is  the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God,"  was  not  for  Israel 
alone  but  is  an  irrevocable  law  for  the  human  race.  The  Sabbath 
afforded  believers  the  time  for  communion  with  the  “maker  of  heaven 
and  earth  and  all  that  in  them  is,"  the  opportunity  of  reading  and  medi¬ 
tating  upon  1  lis  Word  and  the  privilege  of  public  and  social  worship. 
The  Sabbath  should  be  filled  with  as  earnest  effort  Godward  as  any  of 
the  other  days  is  for  self.  The  Sabbath  is  vital  to  the  Christian  religion. 
Deviation  from  its  real  purpose  soon  manifests  itself  in  the  life  and 
character  of  human  society.  I  Ience  the  early  pastors  sought  by  precept 
and  example  and  by  the  authority  of  God  to  secure  a  right  observance 
of  the  day.  That  their  instructions  brought  forth  fruit  is  shown  in  the 
way  that  their  flocks  kept  the  Lord’s  Day.  The  manner  of  its  observ¬ 
ance  varied  in  degrees  from  almost  Puritanical  strictness  to  a  dav  of 
rest  and  recreation.  In  the  more  pious  homes  not  only  was  the  Sab¬ 
bath  welcomed  but  preparations  were  made  so  that  the  whole  day  could 
be  devoted  to  religious  activities.  On  Saturday  afternoon  small  chil¬ 
dren  put  away  their  toys  and  dolls,  shoes  were  greased  and  set  in  a 
row.  Sabbath  clothes  were  placed  in  neat  piles  on  a  spare  bed  for  the 
respective  members  of  the  family,  and  often  fodder  was  put  down  for 
the  stock.  Coffee  was  ground  on  Saturday  and  so  strict  were  some  in 
refraining  from  labor  that  it  was  alleged  that  they  baked  the  buck¬ 
wheat  cakes  for  the  Sabbath  late  on  Saturday  evening.  Visiting  on 
the  Sabbath  was  discouraged  except  on  sacramental  occasions  or  caring 
for  the  sick.  The  Christian  home  or  community  was  recognized  by 
special  quietness.  No  loud  talking  or  boisterous  plays  or  whistling 


38 


were  tolerated  and  in  some  instances  barking  dogs  were  scolded  or 
cuffed  into  silence. 

W  hole  families  attended  church,  walking  or  riding  horseback,  as 
far  as  five  or  six  miles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Shira  each  upon  a  horse 
with  a  child  in  front  and  one  behind,  rode  to  Concord  from  their  home 
a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  North  Washington.  Those  walking  often 
came  barefooted  and  when  in  sight  of  the  church  put  on  their  shoes  and 
stockings  only  to  reverse  this  order  on  the  homeward  way.  The  family 
sat  in  one  pew  under  the  watchful  eye  of  the  parents  through  two  long 
services  with  usually  an  intermission  of  three-quarters  of  an  hour. 
The  fillip  on  the  ear  of  a  restless  child  or  the  emphasis  with  which  it  was 
set  down  in  the  pew  was  usually  a  sufficient  reminder  of  parental 
authority.  Upon  reaching  home  and  the  chores  having  been  done  the 
family  partook  of  the  evening  meal  of  mush  and  milk  and  the  Sabbath 
closed  with  the  answering  in  turn  of  the  questions  of  the  Shorter  Cate¬ 
chism.  Well  earned  was  the  rest  and  sweet  was  the  sleep  of  the 
righteous. 

Presbytery  has  a  number  of  records  pertaining  to  the  Sabbath. 
In  1826  it  expressed  its  disapproval  of  the  Rev.  Hezekiah  May’s  “coun¬ 
tenancing  the  driving  of  the  Mail  Stage  on  the  Sabbath  by  availing 
himself  in  one  instance  of  that  means  of  conveyance,  although  the  ob¬ 
ject  he  had  in  view  on  the  day  appeared  to  be  justifiable. ”  This  brother 
was  again  charged  in  1S35  with  unchristian  conduct  and  the  following 
action  was  taken:  “This  Presbytery  deem  traveling  on  the  river  with 
boats  or  lumber  on  the  Sabbath  day  incompatible  with  Christian  char¬ 
acter  except  in  cases  where  life  and  health  would  be  endangered  by  rest¬ 
ing  during  the  sacred  hours.” 

In  1835  Robert  Boyd,  Esq.,  of  Bull  Creek,  was  “debarred  from  the 
Communion  until  he  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  repentance.  Mis  of¬ 
fense  was  keeping  the  locks  upon  the  canal  on  the  Sabbath.  The  keep¬ 
ing  of  a  boarding  house  at  camp  meeting  is  considered  elsewhere. 

The  development  of  the  oil  fields  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Pres¬ 
bytery  caused  much  Sabbath  work  and  the  first  evening  of  the  April 
meeting  of  1857  was  devoted  to  a  discussion  of  the  subject  “The  Ad¬ 
vantage  of  the  Sabbath  to  the  Church.” 

Presbytery  expressed  its  decided  disapproval  of  the  reading  of  secu¬ 
lar  newspapers  or  other  light  literature  on  the  Sabbath  and  the  buying 
of  papers  on  this  day.  I  his  action  was  taken  June  23,  1880,  and  in 
the  same  year  sent  an  Overture  to  the  General  Assembly  on  this  sub- 
ject. 

The  following  paper  presented  by  Dr.  Coulter  and  in  language 
characteristic  on  the  man,  was  adopted  at  the  September  meeting  in 
1886:  “The  Presbytery  of  Butler  in  view  of  the  efforts  of  the  enemies 
of  the  Christian  Sabbath  to  do  away  with  the  observance  of  this  divine 


39 


institution,  feel  that  they  ought  to  raise  a  note  of  warning  on  this  im¬ 
portant  subject.  They  hereby  earnestly  urge  upon  all  members  of  the 
churches  within  their  care  to  avoid  all  profaning  of  the  Sabbath  by 
unnecessary  thoughts,  words  or  works  about  worldly  employments  or 
recreations  and  especially  they  implore  them  not  to  travel  on  the  Sun¬ 
day  railroad  trains  or  read  Sunday  newspapers  or  other  secular  litera¬ 
ture  on  the  Sabbath,  remembering  that  their  own  spiritual  interest  de¬ 
mands  this  and  that  the  interests  of  the  Church  and  the  Country  demand 
the  most  scrupulous  observance  of  the  Sabbath  by  the  Christians. ” 

In  1891  Presbytery  entered  its  protest  against  the  proposed  open¬ 
ing  of  the  Columbian  Exposition  on  the  Sabbath.  Notwithstanding  the 
earnest  efforts  of  the  ministers  and  the  pious  Christians,  there  has  been 
steady  and  cumulative  departure  from  the  simplicity  of  the  Sabbath 
observances  of  a  century  ago.  Industrialism  and  transportation,  recrea¬ 
tion  and  amusements  have  almost  robbed  us  of  this  priceless  heritage. 
The  attacks  are  organized  and  increasing  in  power  and  influence. 
Worldliness  and  materialism  and  rationalism  want  everything  wide 
open  seven  days  of  each  week  in  the  year.  “If  the  foundations  are  de¬ 
stroyed  what  can  the  righteous  do?”  Only  by  eternal  vigilance  can  this 
sheet  anchor  of  the  Church  be  preserved  and  if  lost  this  crime 
against  civilization  will  be  charged  to  the  so-called  Christians  whose 
personal  interests  transcend  their  loyalty  to  the  will  of  God.  The 
Lord’s  Day  Alliance  is  the  best  modern  method  of  resisting  the  deter¬ 
mined  onslaughts  of  designing  individuals,  organizations  and  industries 
and  this  organization  deserves  material  aid  from  the  churches  of  this 
Presbytery  that  everything  may  be  done  to  protect  this  divinely  appoint¬ 
ed  institution. 


Slavery 

The  purchase  or  holding  of  Negroes  as  slaves  had  continued  just 
two  centuries  when  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  ordered  the  erection  of 
Allegheny  Presbytery.  Slavery  had  become  a  national  issue  and  the 
Missouri  Compromise  was  bitterly  contested  in  Congress.  The  whole 
question  of  slavery  may  be  briefly  presented  under  three  aspects.  First 
it  was  a  political  question  of  expediency.  Prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War  the  foremost  nations  of  Europe  countenanced  the  traffic  and  re¬ 
ceived  revenue  therefrom  just  as  these  nations  do  from  the  liquor  busi¬ 
ness.  Human  slavery  was  neither  publicly  challenged  nor  condemn¬ 
ed.  The  public  conscience  of  the  Colonies  was  not  arrayed  against  the 
traffic,  for  slaves  were  owned  and  held  in  every  colony.  But  this  dis¬ 
tinction  should  always  be  kept  in  view.  In  the  northern  colonies  the 
slaves  were  few  in  number  and  were  usually  personal  or  family  servants. 
They  received  wages  as  if  they  were  free.  In  the  southern  colonies  the 
slave  was  a  field  servant  and  his  earnings  belonged  to  his  owner. 


40 


In  the  Declaration  of  Independence  very  high  ground  was  taken 
“that  all  men  were  created  equal:  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Crea¬ 
tor  with  certain  inalienable  rights;  that  among  these  are  life,  liberty 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness/’  This  statement  was  epoch  making  and 
challenged  the  right  of  human  enslavement.  The  political  issue  arose 
in  the  Constitutional  Convention  over  the  question,  Shall  slaves  be 
enumerated  in  the  basis  for  Representatives?  and  was  long  and  bitterly 
debated.  Finally  a  compromise  was  effected  by  which  three-fifths  of 
the  slaves  were  to  be  counted.  If  this  concession  had  not  been  firmly 
embodied  in  the  Constitution  as  well  as  the  privilege  to  import  slaves 
until  1808  and  the  fugitive  slave  clause,  the  southern  colonies  would 
have  resolutely  opposed  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  and  with  it 
prevented  the  organization  of  the  Federal  Government.  Though  the 
concession  permitting  the  importation  of  slaves  was  discontinued  by  law 
after  January  1,  1808,  this  political  grip  and  power  was  not  broken 
until  the  Fourteenth  Amendment  was  added  to  the  Constitution. 


The  second  aspect  of  the  slavery  question  was  an  economic  one. 
The  invention  of  the  cotton  gin  made  slavery  very  profitable  in  the 
South.  In  the  North  such  a  system  was  unnecessary  for  each  person 
felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  earn  his  daily  bread  in  the  sweat  of  his  own 
face  and  not  of  another’s  face,  especially  of  a  slave.  These  two  sys¬ 
tems  contended  for  the  control  of  our  national  policy.  In  1820  there 
were  eleven  free  and  eleven  slave  states  and  by  terms  of  the  Missouri 
Compromise,  Missouri  was  to  be  admitted  as  a  slave  state  with  the 
express  provision  “that  all  states  hereafter  formed  out  of  the  the  terri¬ 
tory  obtained  from  Mexico,  north  and  west  of  Missouri,  north  of  36° 
30'  should  come  in  free.”  The  question  was  not  settled  forever  but 
was  destined  to  appear  again  in  a  more  dangerous  form. 


The  discussion  arising  out  of  the  political  and  economic  phases  of 
the  movement  revealed  the  essential  nature  of  the  question,  which  was 
at  root  moral  and  religious  The  North  had  to  come  to  realize  that 
slavery  was  a  positive  moral  evil.  No  farther  concessions  could  be 
made  to  the  system  and  every  lawful  means  should  be  procured  to 
effect  its  destruction.  Calhoun  and  his  followers  strenuously  held  that 
slavery  was  a  positive  good  tor  the  Negro,  sanctioned  by  both  the 
Scriptures  and  the  history  of  the  Christian  Church.  The  bitterness  of 
the  struggle  increased  with  the  passing  years  until  many  strong  men 
feared  that  the  Union  would  be  wrecked.  In  1848  the  nation  was  "half 
tree  and  half  slave,”  fifteen  states  in  each  group  and  California  seeking 
admittance  as  a  tree  state.  If  California’s  petition  was  granted  the 
North  would  have  a  working  majority  and  after  two  years  of  acrimoni¬ 
ous  debate  the  Omnibus  Bill  became  a  law  in  1850. 


4  hrough  all  these  stirring  and  exciting  times  the  church  was  not 
a  disinterested  spectator.  The  General  Assembly  frequently  urged 


41 


ministers,  elders  and  members  against  the  evil  but  made  no  political 
announcements.  The  ministers  and  members  of  the  Presbytery  shared 
the  thoughts  and  convictions,  hopes  and  fears  of  the  church  at  large. 
Great  self  restraint  was  exercised  lest  partisan  issues  might  usurp  the 
true  function  of  the  Presbytery.  Strange  as  it  appears  there  are  only 
two  direct  references  to  the  subject  as  matters  of  record.  The  first 
instructs  the  Commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1837,  “to 
extend  their  influence  to  discountenance  the  agitation  of  slavery  in  the 
General  Assembly.”  T  his  was  the  year  in  which  the  division  of  the 
Church  into  the  Old  and  New  School  bodies  occurred  and  one  of  the 
contributing  causes  was  the  decided  opposition  of  the  New  School 
brethren  to  maintaining  a  neutral  position  in  the  matter  of  slavery.  This 
will  go  far  to  explain  the  Presbytery’s  instruction  to  its  Commissioners. 

The  second  reference  is  to  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  pre¬ 
pare  a  paper  on  slavery.  When  the  paper  was  read  it  was  tabled 
indefinitely,  indicating  that  the  sentiments  expressed  were  either  un¬ 
satisfactory  to  the  Presbytery  or  if  satisfactory  to  the  majority  had 
the  opposition  of  a  strong  minority.  This  action  on  the  part  of  Pres¬ 
bytery  was  stigmatized  as  evasive  and  cowardly  and  in  effect  encourag¬ 
ing  the  slave  holders  in  the  South.  Feeling  was  tense  for  a  time.  Party 
lines  were  disregarded.  Neighbors  were  arrayed  against  neighbors. 
Members  of  families  were  found  on  opposite  sides.  Lines  of  cleavage 
in  congregations  were  becoming  evident.  Rev.  Harvison’s  sermon  in 
Mt.  Nebo  in  1864  so  highly  incensed  some  of  his  hearers  that  they  left 
the  church  in  anything  but  a  worshipful  mood  and  later  withdrew  from 
the  neighborhood.  Within  the  Presbytery  were  a  number  of  ardent 
“abolitionists”  who  were  unsatisfied  with  the  position  of  the  General 
Assembly  and  the  Presbytery  on  slavery.  At  least  two  Free  Presby¬ 
terian  Churches  were  established  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery, 
Buffalo,  located  near  Worthington,  Armstrong  County,  was  a  member  ol 
the  Presbytery  of  Mahoning.  It  was  received  into  the  Presbytery  of 
Allegheny  October  16,  1866,  and  its  name  changed  to  Worthington. 

The  other  Free  Presbyterian  Church  was  located  at  Harrisville.  As 
to  its  origin  there  is  little  information  to  offer.  Elder  James  Glenn 
from  Plain  Grove  withdrew  and  united  with  it.  Joseph  McDowell,  who 
lived  two  miles  west  of  the  present  town  of  Grove  City,  drove  past  the 
New  School  Church  in  Pine  Grove  to  this  Free  Church  as  also  did 
John  Davidson,  who  lived  east  of  Amity  and  was  a  member  of  it,  drove 
past  the  old  church  each  Sabbath  to  attend  at  Harrisville.  Ilis  little 
niece  watching  Mr.  Davidson  driving  past  his  home  church  said,  “I 
wonder  why  Uncle  John  does  this?”  But  she  was  too  young  to  appre¬ 
ciate  such  actions  for  the  Free  Church  took  advanced  positions  on 
Temperance,  Secret  Societies  and  moral  issues. 

The  Southern  Presbyterians  withdrew  and  formed  the  Southern 


42 


Presbyterian  Church  in  1861.  W  hen  the  war  broke  out  often  natural 
brothers  were  found  on  opposing  sides,  so  were  Presbyterians  seeking  to 
destroy  the  defendants  of  slavery  yet  of  the  same  theological  doctrines 
and  practice.  They  sought  not  to  slay  their  brothers  in  the  faith,  but 
like  the  Quaker  who  said  to  a  troublesome  neighbor,  “1  do  not  want  to 
kill  thee  but  you  are  standing  in  the  direction  I  am  aiming  my  gun.” 
It  was  the  evil  cause  that  was  to  be  destroyed  and  to  accomplish  this 
end  the  greatest  fratricidal  war  of  history  raged  for  four  years.  The 
losses  in  property  and  lives,  for  Greek  was  contending  with  Greek,  was 
without  parallel.  Kinsmen  when  embittered  contend  with  a  persistence 
and  a  ferocity  unequaled  by  differing  races. 


Temperance  and  Interesting  Resolutions 

Compared  with  the  two  records  relating  to  slavery  there  are  many 
more  reports  and  resolutions  on  temperance  than  on  any  other  subject. 
Slavery  was  practiced  in  distant  parts  of  our  country  and  was  not  a 
special  interest  to  this  section  except  as  involved  in  the  question  of 
States  Rights  and  Tariff  or  as  efforts  were  made  to  extend  the  system 
into  other  parts  of  our  country.  Intemperance,  on  the  other  hand, 
with  its  attending  evils  in  society,  economics,  politics  and  religion  was 
ever  present  and  like  Banquo’s  ghost  “would  not  down.”  Intrenched 
in  the  law  of  the  nation,  for  production  of  revenue,  and  licensed  for 
state  revenue,  and  exerting  a  corrupting  influence  upon  politics  and  legis¬ 
lation  it  became  the  consciencelss  enemy  of  home,  church,  state,  peace, 
prosperin'  and  every  good.  Sturdy  and  sleepless  opponents  of  intemp¬ 
erance  of  every  form,  opposed  its  spread,  sought  to  restrict  and  regulate 
it  in  the  hope  that  in  time  it  could  be  eliminated  from  the  body  politic. 
1  hough  often  deceived  and  betrayed,  the  conscientious  temperance 
forces  sought  some  new  angle  of  attack.  They  were  undaunted  for  their 
quarrel  was  right  and  just  though  opposed  by  all  means  fair  or  foul 
that  human  ingenuity  or  financial  and  political  resources  could  devise. 
I  he  defeat  of  the  proposed  amendment  to  the  State  Constitution,  while 
very  humiliating  at  the  time,  was  a  blessing  in  disguise.  Public  inter¬ 
est  was  not  sufficiently  vigorous  and  determined  to  render  enforcement 
effect ive.  I  he  Brook's  License  Law  regarded  by  many  as  a  temperance 
statute,  committed  our  state  to  saloon  interests  and  intrenched  the  saloon 
deeper  in  jurisprudence  than  all  preceding  statutes.  Present  efforts  to 
modify  and  retain  the  name  and  essentials  of  this  iniquitous  measure 
show  that  it  has  been  the  sheet  anchor  of  the  hopes  of  intemperance  and 
should  these  efforts  prevail,  it  will  stand  as  a  protest  against  the  Vol¬ 
stead  Enforcement  Act.  Pennsylvania,  to  her  lasting  dishonor,  was  the 
forty-fifth  and  last  state  to  ratify  the  Eighteenth  Amendment  to  the 
Consitution  of  the  United  States. 


43 


What  has  been  wrought  in  this  century  long  struggle?  In  1820 
liquor  was  almost  as  free  as  water.  Anyone  who  knew  how  or  had  the 
capital  could  build  a  still  house  and  make  whiskey  without  hindrance 
to  any  extent.  In  Parker  and  the  northern  part  of  Fairview  Townships 
there  were  five  still  houses  and  only  two  churches.  One  such  still 
house  stood  in  the  ravine  near  the  eastern  side  of  the  cemetery  of 
Middlesex  Church.  In  the  church’s  efforts  to  oust  the  owner  and  get 
possession  of  the  property  which  the  church  claimed,  an  old  citizen 
assured  the  writer,  that  during  the  litigation  as  to  the  ownership  of  that 
noble  spring,  so  essential  to  the  business  of  the  distiller,  it  went  dry 
and  little  birds  dusted  themselves  in  the  sand  in  the  crevices  in  the 
rocks  through  which  copious  waters  had  flowed.  Nor  did  the  waters 
come  again  until  the  property  rights  were  assured  to  the  church  and 
then  it  burst  out  suddenly  and  has  never  faltered  since  that  day. 

There  was  no  tax  for  revenue  upon  “ardent  spirits.”  It  could  be 
bought  at  every  store  as  freely  as  molasses  by  children  and  adults  and 
in  any  quantity.  Taverns  were  plenty  and  the  only  regulations  that 
governed  the  amount  bought  or  drunk  was  the  purchaser’s  money  and 
capacity  or  the  judgment  of  the  keeper  of  the  tavern.  These  parties 
could  not  always  agree  on  that  point  and  then  trouble  would  start. 
Mr.  George  Cooper,  a  blacksmith  in  a  village  bearing  his  name  and 
just  south  of  Glade  Mills,  this  county,  and  a  tavern  keeper  was  annoy¬ 
ed  by  a  bully  who  demanded  more  whiskey.  This  man  followed  Mr. 
Cooper  from  place  to  place,  who  seeking  to  evade  a  quarrel,  retired  to 
his  private  sitting  room  Hither  came  the  bully  and  seeking  to  eject 
him,  Mr.  Cooper  struck  the  man  one  blow,  but  it  brought  death  in¬ 
stantly. 

A  supply  of  rye  whiskey  was  laid  in  against  house,  barn  and  even 
church  raisings.  The  writer’s  father  carried  it  to  the  harvest  field,  a 
small  jug  in  one  hand  and  a  bucket  of  water  in  the  other.  In  many  of 
the  homes  of  leading  men  and  doughty  church  members,  perhaps  offi¬ 
cers  too,  ardent  spirits  was  used  to  prepare  spirits  of  camphor  and 
tansy  or  wild  cherry  bitters,  a  little  of  which  was  taken  for  the 
stomach’s  sake,  before  breakfast  of  course.  Often  the  decanter,  a  glass, 
some  sugar  and  hot  water  were  offered  to  guests  or  the  pastor  and  elder 
in  making  their  annual  visitation  of  the  families  of  the  flock.  Not 
infrequently  a  small  flask  stood  in  the  pulpit  for  the  Dominie’s  use  and 
there  is  a  tradition  that  some  pastors  were  not  averse  to  taking  enough 
to  wet  their  lips  before  beginning  the  delivery  of  the  sermon  in  spite 
of  the  injunction,  “Look  not  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red,  when  it 
giveth  its  color  in  the  cup,  when  it  moveth  itself  aright.  At  last  it 
biteth  like  a  serpent  and  stingeth  like  an  adder.”  In  Irish  wakes  and 
funerals,  whiskey  was  indispensable  as  it  helped  to  celebrate  properly. 
Once  an  Irishman  expressed  his  opinion  of  “Whiskey”  on  this  wise: 


44 


“Bread  is  the  staff  of  life,  but  real  whiskey  is  life  itself.”  Custom, 
habit  and  the  sense  of  personal  liberty  on  the  part  of  the  individual  aided 
and  abetted  by  the  monetary  gain  of  the  vender  have  been  well  nigh 
insurmountable  obstacles,  but  these  have  been  at  last  overcome  through 
the  Eighteenth  Constitutional  Amendment,  an  achievement  which  be¬ 
came  effective  January  16,  1920.  The  notable  and  outstanding  steps 
may  be  noted  in  passing.  In  1811  Benjamin  Rush,  M.  D.,  presented  to 
the  General  Assembly  1.000  copies  of  his  pamphlet  entitled  “An  Inquiry 
into  the  Effects  of  Ardent  Spirits  upon  the  Human  Body  and  Mind.” 
The  same  General  Assembly  was  so  impressed  by  the  cogency  of  his 
argument  that  it  appointed  a  committee  “to  devise  measures  which, 
when  sanctioned  by  the  General  Assembly,  may  have  an  influence  in 
preventing  some  of  the  numerous  and  threatening  mischiefs  which  are 
experienced  throughout  our  country  by  the  excessive  and  intemperate 
use  of  spirituous  liquors.”  The  day  of  small  things  should  not  be 
despised  for  this  was  the  thin  edge  of  the  entering  wedge  that  com¬ 
mitted  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  right 
nobly  has  she  striven  for  the  mastery.  The  Presbyteries  of  Allegheny 
and  Butler  have  most  loyally  supported  each  advanced  position  estab¬ 
lished  by  the  General  Assembly  besides  taking  a  most  active  interest  in 
state  and  local  measures  seeking  to  eliminate  the  manufacture,  distri¬ 
bution  and  sale  of  all  intoxicating  beverages.  It  sought  to  establish 
temperance  societies  in  the  congregations  and  the  Rev.  John  Coulter, 
the  second  pastor  of  this  congregation  of  whom  we  are  now  guests,  or¬ 
ganized  the  first  Temperance  Society  in  Butler  County  consisting  of 
Robert  Thorne,  James  McCurdy,  Lester  Maxwell,  William  Campbell 
and  Rev.  John  Coulter,  all  connected  with  this  church.  Pledges  were 
signed  by  individual  societies.  Then  the  Washington  Society  of  1840, 
which  advocated  total  abstinence.  It  was  not  a  movement  within  the 
church  and  in  some  parts  was  antagonistic  to  the  Christian  Churches 
but  it  swept  like  wild  fire  all  over  the  country  reclaiming  thousands  from 
the  power  of  strong  drink  and  mixed  drinks.  One  such,  John  B.  Goff, 
became  a  living  sacrifice  with  his  service  to  the  cause  of  temperance. 
He  is  the  connecting  link  between  the  former  and  later  struggles  for 
temperance.  1  hese  movements  resulted  in  no  compact  organization  by 
which  political  influence  and  action  could  be  effected.  To  accomplish 
this  end  the  National  Prohibition  Party  was  organized  in  1869,  but  not 
all  Christian  Temperance  workers  rallied  to  the  new  party.  The  Wo¬ 
man  s  Christian  Temperance  Lnion  began  in  1874  and  continued  to 
exert  a  definite  and  direct  influence  upon  the  problem,  a  zealous  per¬ 
sonal  contact.  Law  and  order  societies  sprang  into  the  breach  for  the 
enforcement  of  existing  laws.  Scientific  instruction  on  hygiene  and 
temperance  became  effective  in  188 — . 

The  Anti-Saloon  League  sought  to  combine  all  temperance  voters 


45 


of  every  party,  independent  of  party  organizations,  for  political  action 
and  publishing  the  attitude  of  office  seekers  as  to  temperance.  Besides 
these,  medical  societies,  business  and  industrial  leaders,  the  Grange,  the 
fears  of  the  South  where  the  Negroes  were  crazed  with  drink,  the 
laboratory  studies  of  the  chemist  and  scientist,  and  the  output  demand¬ 
ed  by  the  World  War,  with  other  contributing  agencies  accomplished 
almost  a  miracle  in  the  face  of  age  long  customs  of  the  undigested 
foreign  elements  and  our  own  governmental  protection  for  revenue 
taxes.  But  one  may  ask,  “What  made  the  temperance  cause  succeed?” 
Not  because  of  zeal  of  individuals  or  the  ability  and  determination  of 
the  leaders,  nor  the  material  resources  at  their  command,  though  too 
great  praise  cannot  be  given  to  their  loyalty  and  fidelity  and  their 
sacrifices.  Their  cry  was  ever  “Spiritus  frumenti  delenda  est,”  but  be¬ 
hind  their  diligence  and  zeal  was  a  wonderful  dynamic.  The  dynamic 
is  none  other  than  Christianity  which  teaches  that  each  man  is  his 
brother’s  keeper  and  must  do  his  utmost  to  secure  that  brother’s  free¬ 
dom  from  his  own  handicaps,  also  from  the  world  and  the  devil,  for  he 
that  is  strong  must  do  a  big  brother’s  part  for  those  that  are  weak. 
Because  Christ’s  Kingdom  is  an  increasing  and  enduring  kingdom  it  is 
irresistable  when  it  discharges  its  duty.  “Like  a  mighty  army  moves 
the  church  of  Cod.”  Every  reform  will  succeed  if  the  dynamic  of 
Christianity  animates  it  as  it  overcame  heathenism,  overcame  the  Dark 
Ages  in  the  Reformation  Period.  The  way  may  be  long  and  difficult 
but  we  reap  in  due  time  if  we  faint  not.  Polygamy,  the  Social  Evil, 
Radicalism,  strife  between  those  who  have  and  those  who  have  not, 
and  all  ignorance  and  idolatry  must  ultimately  flee  away  before  the 
Christian  Church.  Christ  said,  “All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven 
and  earth.  Co,  therefore  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  1  have  commanded  you;  and  lo, 
1  am  with  you  always  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  Amen.” 

INTERESTING  TEMPERANCE  RECORDS 

April  6,  1831.  “Resolved  that  this  Presbytery  cordially  approve  of 
the  measures  adopted  and  pursued  by  the  temperance  societies  on  the 
principle  of  total  abstinence  from  Ardent  Spirits,  except  as  medicine, 
and  do  effectually  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  principle  to  all  the 
people  in  their  respective  charges.” 

April  24,  1872.  “Resolved  that  Presbytery  express  their  continued 
deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  temperance  and  their  gratification  at  the 
enactment  of  the  Local  Option  Law  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  by 
which  each  county  and  city  may  decide  by  vote  next  March  whether 
license  shall  be  granted  within  its  bounds  to  sell  intoxicating  liquors. 
And  Presbytery  hereby  urge  pastors,  elders  and  people  to  do  all  that 


46 


can  be  done  by  them  in  their  respective  neighborhoods  to  make  the 
vote  referred  to  a  complete  victory  of  the  Temperance  Cause  and  also 
they  endorse  the  high  Scriptural  ground  taken  by  the  last  General 
Assembly  on  the  subject  of  Temperance.” 

April  28,  1875.  “Whereas  Presbytery  has  learned  that  efforts  are 
being  made  to  secure  the  pardon  of  one,  Gibson,  who  was  sentenced 
to  the  Work  House  for  violation  of  the  Liquor  Law,  we  do  hereby  ex¬ 
press  our  earnest  protest  against  the  pardoning  of  this  notorious  and 
dangerous  criminal,  believing  that  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  com¬ 
munity,  the  honor  of  the  court  and  the  efficiency  of  the  laws  demand 
that  he  should  serve  out  his  full  sentence  inflicted  by  the  Court.” 

April  26,  1876.  “Feeling  that  there  is  a  widespread  misapprehen¬ 
sion  among  the  members  of  our  congregations  as  to  the  position  of  our 
church  on  the  subject  of  Temperance  we  call  attention  to  the  following 
principles  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;  1.  The  use  of  intoxicating 
liquors  as  a  beverage  is  also  inconsistent  with  membership  in  the 
Church;  2.  The  sale  of  intoxicants  as  a  beverage  is  also  inconsistent 
with  the  Christian  profession;  3.  Encouraging  such  sale  either  by 
rent  of  property  for  this  purpose  or  by  presenting  and  advocating  as 
an  attorney  petitions  in  court  for  license  to  make  such  a  sale  is  likewise 
unchristian  and  unbecoming  any  members  of  our  church.” 

June  29,  1881.  Two  resolutions  were  adopted:  1.  “That  in  the 
judgment  of  this  Presbytery,  signing  petitions  for  a  hotel  license,  the 
presenting  of  such  petitions  to  the  court  by  attorneys,  becoming  bonds¬ 
men  for  those  engaged  in  the  liquor  traffic,  the  renting  of  houses  to  be 
used  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drink,  keeping  hotels  where  alcoholic 
drinks  are  sold,  also  the  careless  prescribing  of  alcoholic  stimulants  by 
physicians  and  all  complicity  with  the  traffic  in  intoxicating  drinks,  are 
inconsistent  with  the  high  vocation  of  the  followers  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  and  our  Sessions  be  directed  to  deal  with  all  members  of  their 
churches  offending  in  such  matters.  2.  That  we  also  enjoin  on  all 
members  of  our  churches  a  steadfast  and  aggressive  opposition  to  in¬ 
temperance  in  all  its  forms  so  that  no  church  member  may  in  any  way 
directly  or  indirectly  become  responsible  for  the  business  of  making 
drunkards.” 

August  9,  1881,  Presbytery  expressed  its  approval  of  an  effort 
about  to  be  made  by  the  Butler  County  Temperance  Association  to 
establish  a  paper  to  be  called  the  Temperance  Union. 

April  22,  1884.  A  Standing  Committee  on  Temperance  consisting 
of  Rev.  Samuel  Williams  and  Elders  John  R.  Mcjunkin  and  W.  D. 
Brandon,  was  appointed. 

April  24.  1888.  “\\  hereas  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  Butler 

County  has  licensed  a  number  of  houses  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquors,  in  several  cases  disregarding  the  lawfully  expressed  wishes  of 


47 


the  great  majority  of  the  moral,  respectable  and  law  abiding  citizens  of 
the  several  districts,  thus  exercising  a  discretionary  power  under  the 
law  for  the  increase  rather  than  the  prevention  of  vice  and  crime  and 
misery  in  the  county,  therefore,  Resolved  that  Presbytery  look  upon 
the  act  of  our  Court  with  deep  sorrow  in  view  of  the  evil  consequences 
which  naturally  result  from  such  actions.  2.  That  we  regard  it  as  a 
mistaken  exercise  of  authority  and  a  great  injury  done  those  whose 
welfare  the  Court  in  the  proper  exercise  of  its  authority  guard  and 
protect.” 

April  23,  1889.  When  the  adoption  of  an  Amendment  to  the  State 
Constitution  was  pending  this  action  was  recorded:  “Whereas  in  the 
Providence  of  God  the  people  of  this  Commonwealth  are  soon  to  have 
the  opportunity  of  deciding  for  themselves  the  question  whether  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage  will  be 
allowed.  Whereas  we  believe  this  to  be  one  of  the  most  important 
and  far  reaching  questions  ever  brought  before  us  for  our  consideration 
and  decision,  because  it  involves  the  dearest  interests  of  vast  multi¬ 
tudes  of  our  fellow  men,  both  for  this  life  and  the  life  to  come.  And 
whereas  intoxicating  drink  is  found  to  be  the  great  obstacle  to  the 
progress  of  the  gospel  and  the  destroying  of  thousands  of  souls  every 
year  since  we  are  expressly  assured  in  the  Scriptures  that  no  drunkard 
can  inherit  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Therefore  resolved,  1.  That  the 
Presbytery  commend  the  proposed  Constitutional  Amendment  to  the 
earnest  and  favorable  consideration  of  all  our  people.  2.  That  we 
recommend  to  all  our  fellow  citizens  to  unite  in  earnest  and  persevering 
efforts  to  secure  its  adoption  at  the  coming  election.” 

April  29,  1891.  “We  view  with  abhorrence  the  action  of  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States  in  refusing  to  ratify  the  treaty  with  European 
powers  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade,  and  the  traffic  in  arms 
and  intoxicants  in  Africa.” 

April  25,  1894.  “We  express  our  high  appreciation  and  hearty 
commendation  of  the  course  pursued  by  our  Honorable  Judge  of  Quar¬ 
ter  Sessions  in  refusing  so  many  applications  for  license  to  sell  intoxi¬ 
cating  liquors  and  thus  closing  up  so  many  fountains  of  vice  and  misery.” 

June  9,  1896.  It  is  the  sense  of  Presbytery  that  the  unfermented 
fruit  of  the  vine  fulfills  every  condition  in  the  celebration  of  the  Lord’s 
Supper.”  On  April  12,  1859,  “Rev.  John  Coulter  and  William  Max¬ 
well,  Elder,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  inquire  whether  pure  wine 
can  be  obtained  for  Communion  purposes  and  to  report  at  their  earliest 
convenience.”  There  is  no  reference  made  to  the  report  of  the  com¬ 
mittee  but  it  is  a  safe  conjecture  that  an  affirmative  answer  was  made 
when  we  recall  the  early  life-long  and  almost  apostolic  zeal  of  Rev. 
Coulter  for  Temperance. 


48 


September  18,  1906.  A  paper  was  addressed  to  the  International 
Committee  of  the  Evangelistic  Alliance  in  the  following  language: 
“Believing  as  we  do  that  intemperance  and  its  results  constitute  one  of 
the  greatest  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  gospel  in  every  land  and  having 
unshaken  faith  in  the  willingness  of  God  to  answer  the  prayers  of  his 
believing  people,  we  as  Christian  workers  earnestly  petition  that  one 
entire  day  of  the  Week  of  Prayer  be  devoted  to  prayers  for  the  removal 
of  the  drinking  usage  of  society  and  the  abolition  of  the  traffic  in  alco¬ 
holic  beverages  and  of  the  opium  habit  and  trade. 


Education:  General  and  Religious 

I.  GENERAL 


Education  has  occupied  a  foremost  place  in  the  thought  and  effort 
of  the  Presbyterians  throughout  the  century.  This  interest  cannot  be 
measured  by  buildings  or  financial  returns  but  by  the  devotion,  love  and 
prayers  of  faithful  pastors  and  many  godly  men  and  women  in  the 
church.  At  the  third  session  of  the  Presbytery,  October  24,  1821,  the 
Presbytery  agreed  to  form  itself  into  an  educational  society  and  ap¬ 
pointed  Messrs.  John  McPherrin  and  John  Munson  to  prepare  a  con¬ 
stitution.  Before  this  document  was  prepared  Rev.  McPherrin  had 
died  but  in  due  time  a  constitution  was  adopted.  The  society  was  con¬ 
fined  largely  to  the  ministers,  eight  in  number,  and  interested  elders,  and 
the  chief  income  came  from  the  meager  salaries  of  those  devoted  ser¬ 
vants  of  God  who  knew  the  value  of  an  education  as  but  few  do  in  our 
time  and  who  knew  as  none  other  the  privations  endured  and  the  years 
spent  in  overcoming  almost  insurmountable  difficulties.  It  was  only 
natural  that  the  primary  interest  of  the  Presbytery  in  education  center¬ 
ed  in  the  selection  and  education  of  choice  and  promising  young  men 
for  the  ministry.  Often  such  pious  and  worthy  young  men  were  very 
poor  and  the  nearest  established  schools  were  the  Academy  at  Darling¬ 
ton.  Beaver  County,  and  Dr.  McMillan’s  Log  College  with  its  theologi¬ 
cal  course  at  Canonsburg  in  Washington  County.  Even  these  humble 
seats  of  learning  were  prohibitive  in  expense.  I  he  earlier  students  re¬ 
ceived  their  academic  instruction  under  the  local  pastor  and  completed 
their  college  work  in  the  Log  College,  which  meant  as  much  at  that 
time  as  it  does  now  to  finish  in  a  foreign  university.  I  heological  train¬ 
ing  was  obtained  also  at  the  Log  College  or  very  often  under  some  out¬ 
standing  divine  whom  Dr.  McMillan  had  taught  and  who  lived  within 
the  reach  of  the  student.  Often  the  students  resided  in  the  home  of 
the  instructor  and  were  regarded  and  treated  as  a  member  of  the  family, 
just  as  young  men  of  that  day  read  law  or  medicine  in  the  home  of  their 
preceptor.  In  this  way  the  students  were  brought  into  direct  personal 


49 


contact  with  the  workers  and  the  work.  I  hey  learned  how  these  practi¬ 
cal  and  successful  ministers  wrote  their  sermons,  did  their  pastoral 
work  and  dealt  with  cases  requiring  discipline.  And  when  such  young 
men  had  been  placed  on  trial  and  had  received  the  approval  or  seasoned 
ministers  who  tolerated  no  laxity  in  doctrine  or  order,  what  satisfaction 
the  tutors  had  in  their  students  and  with  what  practical  zeal  and  confi¬ 
dence  and  enthusiasm  these  young  men  began  their  life  work. 

It  was  in  1825  that  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  was  founded 
by  the  General  Assembly,  being  preceded  by  Princeton  in  1811,  and 
Auburn  in  1819.  The  former  was  conservative  and  the  latter  liberal 
and  their  products  came  into  collision  not  many  years  later  and  with 
what  consequences  another  chapter  sets  forth. 

Not  only  was  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  the  first  Seminary 
established  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  but  was  intended  to  meet 
the  missionary  or  evangelistic  needs  of  the  Mississippi  basin,  then 
rapidly  filling  up  with  settlers.  To  this  institution  all  students  went 
with  one  exception,  until  1842.  The  multiplying  congregations  and 
churches  within  the  Presbytery  and  the  urgent  appeals  of  communities 
in  the  missionary  zone  together  with  the  growing  rivalry  between  the 
Congregational  and  Presbyterian  Churches  in  the  Mississippi  basin 
created  an  increasing  demand  for  ministers.  And  when  churches  were 
informed  of  the  need  the  volunteers  were  forthcoming.  The  loyalty  of 
the  Presbytery  to  this  school  of  the  prophets  has  always  been  steady  and 
her  financial  assistance  compares  very  favorably  with  other  Presbyteries 
of  greater  financial  ability.  In  the  first  twenty-five  years  of  the  history 
of  this  seminary  the  Presbytery  gave  $3,104.00  and  for  the  endowment 
fund  the  Presbytery  assessed  the  churches  the  following  sums:  L  pper 
Bull  Creek  $40.00;  Mt.  Nebo  $80  00;  Slate  Lick  and  Union  $220; 
Center  $80  00;  Concord  and  Muddy  Creek  $200.00;  Butler  $200;  Free¬ 
port,  Scrubgrass  and  Harrisville  $120.00;  Cross  Roads  and  Plains 
$200.00;  Plain  Grove  $150.00;  Middlesex  and  Bull  Creek  $150.00;  Por- 
tersville  and  Rich  Hill  $100.00,  and  Tarentum  $100.00.  Total, 
$1,740.00. 

The  gifts  to  the  board  of  education  was  $2.96  in  1821,  and  though 
it  is  small,  it  was  doubtless  from  the  very  slender  salaries  of  the  eight 
pastors  present.  With  the  exception  of  the  years  1823,  1825  and  1829 
the  columns  of  education  has  never  been  a  blank  in  the  Presbyterial 
report.  But  this  is  no  cause  for  congratulation  for  they  have  always 
been  small,  distressingly  small  and  totally  inadequate  to  the  need  of 
her  own  students.  How  many  students  managed  to  finish  their  educa¬ 
tion  on  such  slender  resources  is  a  constant  marvel.  No  murmur  oi 
complaint  finds  a  place  on  our  records  but  no  doubt  many  a  tale  of 
privation  and  real  suffering  from  the  lack  of  food  and  clothing  or  both 
came  to  the  ears  of  the  Presbytery.  Just  what  was  in  the  hands  of  the 


50 


treasurer  of  the  education  society  could  be  used  to  relieve  the  distress  of 
the  most  needy  students.  Mr.  David  Kirkpatrick  was  given  $18.00 
and  was  later  offered  the  principalship  of  the  Witherspoon  Institute. 
When  money  was  scarce  its  purchasing  power  was  correspondingly 
great.  It  is  not  the  wealth  of  interest  and  love  that  accompanies  the 
gift,  but  the  money  that  purchases  the  students  necessities.  The  gifts 
for  this  cause  were  comparatively  small  as  compared  with  the  gifts  to 
other  agencies,  but  then,  as  in  many  instances  now,  church  members 
did  not  realize  how  essential  and  necessary  the  education  of  their 
spiritual  teachers  and  leaders  was  or  their  duty  to  assist  these  worthy 
and  struggling  young  men  to  reach  their  goal. 

Though  there  is  no  specific  record  of  the  interest  of  Presbytery  in 
public  or  general  education  there  is  abundant  collateral  testimony  that 
the  ministers  were  individually  active  and  zealous  to  advance  the  cause 
of  education  in  everv  legitimate  way.  Prior  to  1834  all  schools  were 
private  or  subscription  schools.  Sometimes  the  more  progressive  com¬ 
munities  granted  assistance  to  such  schools.  The  public  school  system 
was  adopted  in  1834  and  its  aim  was  “to  banish  illiteracy  and  make 
ignorance  impossible.”  Ministers  were  often  appointed  to  examine  all 
applicants  who  desired  to  teach  school.  Ministers  also  visited  the 
schools,  counseled  the  teacher  and  made  speeches  to  the  scholars  after 
the}'  had  catechised  the  school. 

After  the  common  school  system  had  been  in  operation  a  few  years 
those  benefited  by  its  training  began  to  ask  for  further  educational 
advantages.  Sympathy  for  this  healthy  demand  and  with  an  earnest 
desire  to  gratify  this  longing  Presbytery  records  this  action  June  23, 
1847:  “That  so  far  as  possible  schools  be  established  under  the  super¬ 
vision  of  the  sessions  of  our  churches,  such  portions  of  the  time  as  are 
not  filled  up  by  the  established  common  schools  of  our  state,  and  that 
Presbytery  as  soon  as  practicable  establish  an  academy  under  their 
care  for  the  education  of  our  candidates  for  the  ministry  and  others 
under  the  instruction  of  a  competent  Presbyterian  instructor  and  that 
till  such  academy  be  established,  any  existing  academy  under  such  in¬ 
structor  be  encouraged  by  our  ministers  and  churches.” 

Out  of  this  movement  the  Witherspoon  Institute  developed  and 
received  its  charter  December,  1849.  Clarion  and  Allegheny  City  Pres¬ 
byteries  were  invited  to  “co-operate  with  us  in  establishing  a  Presby- 
terial  academy  in  our  bounds,”  because  they  were  originally  part  of 
this  Presbytery.  \\  hat  response  if  any,  was  made  to  these  overtures  is 
not  a  matter  of  record.  Rev.  Loyal  Young,  besides  carrying  the  minis¬ 
terial  and  pastoral  duties  of  the  Butler  Church,  served  the  academy 
as  its  first  principal  for  three  years  and  to  his  fidelity  and  loyalty,  until 
his  removal  to  West  \  irginia,  the  Institute  owed  much  of  its  success. 


Principals 

Rev.  L.  Young . April  10,  1850,  to  June  21,  1853 

Mr.  J.  R.  Coulter . . . June  21,  1853,  to  October  23,  1855 

Rev.  John  Smalley . October  23,  1855,  to  April  14,  1858 

Mr.  James  S.  Boyd . April  13,  1859,  to  August  31,  1865 

Rev.  W.  I.  Brugh . August  31,  1865,  to  March  4,  1871 

Rev.  J.  W.  Mamilton . March  4,  1871,  to  June  25,  1872 

Rev.  \Y.  I.  Brugh . June  25,  1872,  to  February,  1877 


The  Institute  prospered  more  in  its  student  body  than  in  its  finances 
or  buildings.  Many  young  men  obtained  a  start  in  the  Institute  and 
became  successful  teachers,  lawyers,  doctors,  ministers  and  missionaries 
of  note,  many  of  whom  are  still  bringing  “forth  fruit  in  their  old  age.” 

The  desire  for  more  commodious  and  more  suitable  quarters  led  to 
the  sale  of  the  old  building  on  the- corner  of  Clay  and  Main  Streets, 
Butler,  and  the  erection  of  a  new  building  on  Institute  Mill,  and  involv¬ 
ed  the  Institute  in  debt  from  which  it  never  rallied.  Having  performed 
a  good  and  notable  work  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  the 
property  was  finally  sold  by  the  sheriff  to  meet  the  demands  of  creditors. 
For  the  lack  of  financial  and  personal  support  this  seat  of  learning  was 
lost  to  the  Presbytery  and  the  community  and  has  not  been  replaced. 
It  may  be  asked  why  should  Presbyterians  lose  Allegheny  and  Dickin¬ 
son  Colleges  or  W  itherspoon  Institute  and  leave  the  ground  to  others? 

In  1858  a  Covenanter  minister,  the  Rev.  Richard  M.  Thompson, 
opened  a  school  in  Pine  Grove,  now  Grove  City,  to  provide  instruction 
in  studies  preparatory  for  college.  T  he  school  was  held  in  the  upper 
rooms  of  the  late  William  Young’s  residence  on  Liberty  Street.  How 
long  this  school  was  maintained  is  not  known  to  the  writer. 

In  1864  the  Rev.  WTlliam  T.  Dickson  became  pastor  of  the  New 
School  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pine  Grove,  later  Grove  City.  Both 
Rev.  Dickson  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Harriet  L.  Dickson,  loved  teaching  and 
they  soon  gathered  a  number  of  young  people  of  the  community  into  a 
school.  The  sessions  were  held  at  first  in  Rev.  Dickson’s  home,  but 
when  the  attendance  required  more  room  the  church  building  was  used. 
With  but  few  interruptions  the  school  continued  for  ten  years.  At  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  the  church  and  people  of  Sunbury,  Rev.  Dickson 
resigned  his  charge  in  September,  1874,  and  again  took  charge  of  the 
Academy  in  connection  with  the  church  of  Sunbury. 

The  success  of  the  school  work  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickson  made  it 
apparent  to  the  lovers  of  higher  education  that  advanced 
schools  should  be  encouraged.  A  number  of  the  enterprising 
citizens  of  the  village  of  Pine  Grove  and  community  had  what  is  now 
called  vision,  for  they  united  with  the  school  board  and  added  a  second 
story  to  the  public  school  building  then  erected.  These  upper  rooms 


were  furnished  in  March,  1876,  with  blackboards,  tables,  chairs,  etc.,  by 
Mr.  1  saac  C.  Ketler,  a  young  school  teacher  of  Blacktown  and  a  recent 
graduate  of  Edinboro  Normal  School.  On  the  11th  of  April  following, 
Mr.  Ketler  opened  a  private  school  with  13  pupils  in  attendance.  From 
these  humble  beginnings  Grove  City'  College  has  grown  and  thousands 
of  young  people  now  in  every  land  and  in  every  walk  of  life  have  felt 
the  impress  of  the  life  and  personality  of  Dr.  Ketler  and  his  associates. 
They  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed  who  taught  them  how  to  serve.  May 
this  institution  founded  in  faith,  watered  in  tears  and  sustained  by 
prayers,  continue  to  pour  forth  abounding  streams  that  make  glad  the 
homeland  and  ever}’  foreign  strand. 

President  Weir  C.  Ketler  writes:  “According  to  our  records  ap¬ 
proximately  one  hundred  and  fifty  former  students  of  the  college  are 
missionaries.  Of  this  number  eightv-seven  are  ministers.” 

o 

Rev.  William  Dickson  served  the  Sunbury  Academy  from  1855  to 
1801.  So  man}’  of  the  young  men  went  to  the  army  in  1861  that  the 
school  was  practically  broken  up.  Rev.  Dickson  became  chaplain  for 
his  boys  later,  for  a  year.  Returning  from  the  army  he  resumed  charge 
of  the  academy  for  some  months  until  1864,  when  he  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Pine  Grove  Presbyterian  Church,  New  School.  When 
he  returned  to  Sunbury  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  church  and 
the  people,  he  took  charge  of  the  academy  and  supplied  the  church 
until  his  death  in  February  7,  1877.  This  academy  continued  to  do 
good  work  until  the  state  sought  to  secure  a  High  School  in  every  town¬ 
ship.  This  was  the  death  knell  of  many  useful  schools  throughout  the 
state.  Only  where  schools  had  adequate  endowment  could  they  con¬ 
tinue  secondary  education. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Dickson  assisted  for  five 
terms  Mr.  R.  D.  Crawford,  the  Principal  of  the  North  Washington 
Institute,  a  school  which  for  a  number  of  years  did  excellent  work  until 
its  patronage  was  reduced  by  surrounding  high  schools.  A  high  school 
was  substituted  in  its  place  five  years  ago. 

Other  academies.  Prospect  and  Cabot,  flourished  for  a  time.  In 
all  the  institutions  named  much  support  and  initiative  came  from  Pres¬ 
byterian  and  United  Presbyterian  pastors  and  people.  Not  less  interest¬ 
ed  and  loyal  has  been  the  support  given  by  the  Presbyterian  elements 
to  every  measure  proposed  to  create  efficiency  or  solid  training  in  the 
common  school  system. 

4  lie  fidelity  of  the  ministers  and  the  churches  to  general  education 
in  the  past  century  can  only  be  measured  by  the  increased  enlighten¬ 
ment  and  usefulness  of  multitudes  of  young  men  and  women,  and 

J  o 

forms  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  achievements  in  which  the  Presby¬ 
ter}’  has  participated  in  the  century  now  closing. 


53 


II.  RELIGIOUS 


Evangelism  in  the  New  Testament  sense  and  religious  education 
are  imperative  duties  of  the  Christian  Church.  For  these  supreme  ends 
she  exists  and  her  strength  and  efficiency  is  proportionate  to  her  fidelity 
and  loyalty  to  these  duties.  Disciple  and  teach  are  Christ’s  unalterable 
commands.  To  convince  the  mind  of  the  truths  of  the  Gospel  implies 
that  character  must  result  from  intelligent  practice  of  these  principles. 
That  the  Christian  Church  has  recognized  this  duty  throughout  nine¬ 
teen  centuries  is  evident  to  the  student  of  history.  The  beginnings  of 
the  great  schools  and  universities  of  Europe  were  church  schools,  the 
great  teachers  were  learned  monks.  These  schools  for  centuries  were 
supervised  by  the  church.  The  early  colleges  in  America  were  founded 
by  the  Christian  Church  and  maintained  for  broader  education  than 
private  schools  could  bestow.  To  these  institutions  pious  parents  sent 
their  sons  to  be  trained  in  a  Christian  atmosphere  and  by  devout  Chris¬ 
tian  teachers. 

The  means  of  grace  dispensed  in  the  local  church  was  mainly 
relied  on  to  develop  staunch  and  sturdy  Christian  character.  The 
Sabbath  services  in  the  sanctuary,  its  hymns  and  prayers,  the  reading 
of  the  Word  and  sermons,  the  hallowed  sacramental  occasions  were 
primary  but  these  had  only  adult  believers  in  view  and  sought  to  build 
them  up.  These  weekly  lessons  were  supplemented  by  parental  train¬ 
ing  and  the  chatechetical  work  by  the  pastor.  It  was  realized  that  the 
religious  training  of  the  youth  was  neglected  in  many  homes  and 
especially  that  religious  training  depends  upon  the  stated  means  of 
grace.  What  could  supply  this  need?  Robert  Raike’s  school  in 
Gloucester  was  the  forerunner  of  the  public  schools,  d  he  Christian 
Church  seized  upon  the  idea  to  impart  religious  instruction  to  her  youth. 
This  century  covers  the  Sunday  School  movement  in  this  region.  I  he 
earliest  Sabbath  Schools  I  have  been  able  to  date  are  Plain  Grove  in 
1822  and  Portersville  in  1823.  The  opening  exercises  consisted  largely 
of  singing,  a  Scripture  lesson  accompanied  with  prayer.  Three  classes 
accommodated  those  present — adults,  youths  and  small  children.  The 
adults  discussed  a  chapter  in  the  course  of  the  Gospel,  the  youths  re¬ 
peated  the  assigned  portions  of  Scripture  and  Catechism  questions  and 
received  a  card  as  a  reward  of  merit.  The  small  children  were  taught  to 
spell  and  to  read  because  there  were  no  public  schools  until  1836.  Later 
came  the  lesson  leaves,  quarterlies  and  all  the  other  improvements  of 
the  present  day  schools.  I  he  writer  well  remembers  how  zealously  the 
teacher  read  the  questions  from  the  lesson  helps  and  then  looking  over 
his  glasses,  scanning  a  row  of  restless  tow  heads  in  search  of  an  answer. 

Sabbath  School  celebrations  were  high  days.  Several  Sabbath 
Schools  would  meet  at  a  designated  center  and  carrying  the  country’s 
flag,  sometimes  accompanied  by  a  martial  band,  and  with  school  and 


54 


class  banners  upraised,  were  reviewed  and  a  prize  given  to  the  largest  or 
best  marching  school.  Meanwhile  tables  were  loaded  with  good  things 
of  all  kinds  until  they  groaned.  Children  were  tired,  thirsty  and  hun¬ 
gry,  and  at  a  given  signal  fell  to  with  a  will  determined  to  relieve  the 
strain  on  the  tables,  but  alas  many  a  youngster  groaned  later.  Picnics 
at  Keister  Park  or  Muddy  Creek  Falls  followed.  Then  came  the  de¬ 
nominational  excursions  to  Conneaut  Lake,  Cascade  and  Alameda  Parks. 
The  Presbytery  once  appointed  a  Presbyterian  Day  but  it  was  not  a 
success  and  there  was  no  more  following  for  the  loaves  and  fishes,  too 
much  trouble  and  expense,  lassitude  and  spiritual  ennui. 

In  1847  the  Presbytery  complying  with  the  views  of  the  Assembly 
of  1844,  made  an  effort  to  establish  religious  parochial  “schools  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Sessions  of  the  Churches,  such  portions  of  the 
time  as  are  not  filled  up  by  the  established  common  schools  of  our 
state.”  No  later  record  refers  to  the  matter. 

The  Christian  Endeavor  movement  started  forty  years  ago  on 
Februray  2,  and  soon  enthusiastic  societies,  often  in  several  divisions, 
were  established  in  all  our  churches.  Much  interest  and  enthusiasm 
was  manifest  by  these  societies  for  some  years.  Its  weakness  and  faults 
were  largely  due  to  the  lack  of  interest  and  wise  supervision  on  the  part 
of  the  pastors  and  sessions.  Where  the  original  purpose  of  the  organ¬ 
ization  was  most  closely  adhered  to  a  great  and  lasting  benefit  came  to 
multitudes  of  earnest  and  religiously  inclined  young  men  and  women. 
These  societies  furnished  the  initial  opportunity  for  personal  Christian 
service,  to  testify  and  to  pray.  This  broadened  their  views,  increased 
their  interest,  multiplied  their  usefulness  to  the  local  church,  put  new 
life  into  many  churches.  Some  earnest  and  active  Endeavorers  went 
directly  to  large  towns  and  cities  and  are  still  exerting  a  strong  influence 
as  officers  and  active  members  in  the  churches  of  their  adoption..  Others 
went  to  college  to  prepare  for  distinctive  religious  work.  Many  such 
earnest  and  enthusiastic  lives  were  waiting  for  just  the  appeal  and  mes¬ 
sage  of  John  R.  Mott  and  Robert  P.  Wilder,  who  visited  colleges  in  be¬ 
half  of  the  Student  Volunteers  for  the  mission  fields.  Examine  this 
list  of  young  men  who  went  to  foreign  mission  fields  and  who,  since  1883, 
were  our  candidates,  born  and  reared  in  our  churches  and  enumerate 
those  who  were  active  members  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  viz: 
John  A.  Eakin,  Jonathan  C.  Kelly,  Floward  Campbell,  Frank  E.  Sim- 
cox.  Wilbur  M.  Campbell,  John  H.  Lawrence,  Harry  A.  Rhodes,  F.  F. 
Graham,  T.  II.  Montgomery,  FI.  W.  Stewart,  E.  C.  Howe,  P.  A.  Eakin, 
E.  G.  Seel.  IT  S.  Reed,  N.  L.  Ramsey,  L.  C.  Schaumburg,  and  present 
candidates,  G.  K.  Monroe  and  Porter  McCandless. 

Also  scrutinize  the  list  of  ministers  who  have  served  in  the  Home 
Mission  Fields:  Melzar  D.  McClelland,  William  II.  Bleakney,  John  A. 
Rodgers,  John  R.  Welch,  Joseph  II.  Goehring,  Detmer  T.  Kuhn,  Ralph 


G.  Knox,  J.  Lynne  Howe,  Charles  G.  Johnson,  Ira  H.  McClymonds,  and 
Thomas  IT  Gilmore. 

Investigate  the  list  of  candidates  who  have  become  pastors  and 
teachers  and  not  included  in  the  above  list:  Cyrus  G.  Allen,  \Y.  Condit 
Dickey,  Robert  L.  Williams,  Isaac  C.  Ketler,  Willis  S.  McNees,  James 
G.  Cunningham.  H.  Bradford  Hummel,  William  E.  Allen.  Frank  W. 
Haves,  J.  Porter  Stoops,  John  A.  Courtney,  William  G.  Reagle,  Charles 
J-  J°Hy>  J°hn  G.  Black,  Charles  P.  Marshall,  W.  Kirk  Cozad,  W.  Lincoln 
McClure,  R.  Curtis  Stewart,  George  J.  Timblin,  Samuel  M.  Goehring, 
Thomas  W.  Pearson,  Llyssus  S.  Bartz,  Francis  W.  Magee.  T.  Park 
McKee,  John  P.  Shelly,  Ira  Murphy,  Herbert  O.  McDonald,  William 

A.  Brown,  David  A.  Green,  Carleton  IT  Barclay,  F.  A.  Conzad,  Winfield 
S.  Kreger,  Elmer  C.  Wortman,  Gill  I.  Wilson,  Zera  M.  Gibson.  James 
D.  Humphrey,  Robert  M.  Ofifutt,  Oscar  C.  Anderson.  Charles  M. 
Covert,  Albert  II.  Goettman.  Thomas  E.  Thompson,  Edwin  W.  Byers, 
D.  Porter  Williams,  \V.  Ellsworth  Marshall,  James  H.  Lawther,  William 
F.  Fleming,  Morton  M.  Rodgers,  George  P.  Stewart,  Harry  M.  Camp¬ 
bell,  Leon  Stewart,  Earl  C.  Cleeland,  Willis  E.  Hogg,  John  D.  McBride, 
Harry  E.  Kaufman,  Walter  P.  McConkey,  Uriah  D.  Reiter,  Frank  S. 
Montgomery,  William  S.  Orr,  Ernest  B.  Lawrence,  James  M.  Thomp¬ 
son,  William  S.  Bingham,  Balint  D.  Moricz,  Robert  L.  Barbor,  Mark 

B.  Maharg,  E.  Paul  McConkey,  Henry  B.  Thompson,  David  R.  Thomp¬ 
son,  Robert  Scott,  Frank  Eakin,  Ralph  Scott,  John  A.  King,  Walter 
L.  Moser,  John  G.  Bingham,  J.  Alfred  Doerr,  Laurel  V.  Kiser,  Archie 
R.  Bartholemew,  John  B.  Cheeseman,  D.  Lester  Say,  Eugene  S.  Gross- 
man,  Elgie  L.  Gibson,  Harry  A.  Gearhart,  Harold  Lee  and  Frank  L. 
Dodds, 

Or  the  equal  number  of  young  women  who  received  the  full  bene¬ 
fits  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  movement  and  who  later  went  to  the 
mission  fields  or  positions  of  teaching  or  active  membership  in  home  or 
city  congregations.  Viewed  from  this  angle  the  results  outstrip  any 
evangelistic  movement  in  the  Presbytery  and  has  given  the  churches  a 
substantial  uplift.  Though  deprived  of  the  usefulness  and  helpfulness 
of  these  sons  and  daughters  the  home  churches  hold  their  names  in 
grateful  memory  and  rejoice  in  their  success  in  other  and  more  fortu¬ 
nate  places. 

The  efficiency  of  this  religious  agency  has  not  been  exhausted. 
Wise  cultivation  will  continue  to  provide  valuable  results.  It  has  set¬ 
tled  down  into  routine  methods  and  needs  a  shot  like  an  oil  well. 
May  not  a  lack  of  interest  in  this  organization  account  for  the  alarming 
shortage  of  candidates  for  the  ministry? 

Some  earnest  efforts  are  being  made  by  individual  churches  to 
secure  religious  education  for  the  membership,  youth  and  children  within 
their  bounds.  Educational  directors  seek  to  co-ordinate  the  religious 


56 


activities  of  all  the  organizations  in  the  church,  just  as  college  courses 
are  synchronized.  This  sort  of  a  religious  education  is  a  necessity  since 
religious  training  in  the  home  is  ignored  and  the  public  schools  are  so 
secularized  that  Catholics  allege  that  our  schools  are  godless.  Our 
Presbytery  has  had  a  number  of  Daily  Vacation  Bible  Schools  in  the 
past  few  years  in  centers  of  foreign  population.  These  have  passed 
beyond  the  experimental  stage  and  should  be  pressed  with  vigor  and  it 
would  not  be  amiss  to  conduct  some  for  native  born  youth. 

Week  day  religious  education  is  engaging  the  thought  and  attention 
of  the  foremost  educators  of  our  time  and  our  Board  of  Publication  and 
Sabbath  School  Work  is  at  present  stressing  this  method  of  intensive 
religious  education. 


Benevolence:  Methods  and  Results 

Benevolence  or  the  thoughtful  planning  and  providing  for  the  larger 
efficiency  of  the  whole  church  is  an  outstanding  characteristic  of 
Christianity.  Races  differ  in  this  aptitude  and  inclination,  yet  Chris¬ 
tianity  seeks  to  cultivate  this  benevolent  spirit  to  the  greatest  degree  in 
even'  race.  The  Presbyterian  Church  has  always  insisted  that  the  divine 
ownership  of  all  material  resources  and  the  individual  use  of  these 
resources  should  be  openly  acknowledged  in  public  worship.  In  ex¬ 
horting  the  Corinthian  Church  to  liberality,  Paul  wrote:  “See  that  ye 
abound  in  this  grace  also.”  Who  in  these  days  considers  the  gathering 
ot  an  offering  as  an  integral  and  essential  part  of  the  public  worship 
of  God  or  manifests  true  respect  and  devotion  while  the  offering  is 
mader  I  he  relation  of  the  offering  to  worship  has  been  displaced  by 
mercenary  views.  In  the  eves  of  most  Christians  the  taking  of  the 
offering  is  regarded  as  a  well  devised  method  of  providing  funds  for 
current  expenses.  I  his  view  is  further  confirmed  by  the  size  of  the 
coins  that  find  their  wav  into  the  collection  plate  and  the  irreverent 
manner  in  which  the  offering  is  taken  as  if  this  act  was  felt  to  be  beg¬ 
ging.  an  unpleasant  duty  to  be  finished  as  rapidly  as  possible.  For¬ 
tunate  is  the  congregation  whose  officers  prize  this  part  of  the  worship 
ot  the  sanctuary  and  who  with  quiet  ease  and  grace  assist  the  people  to 
honor  God  with  the  first  fruits  of  their  labors  and  to  publicly  manifest 
their  gratitude  and  loyalty  to  the  giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift. 

1  he  nia\er  dedicating  the  offering  in  a  few  well  chosen  sentences  by  a 
de\  out  pastor  does  not  dismiss  this  part  of  the  service,  but  is  a  splendid 
introduction  to  that  personal  communion  with  God  which  is  the  essence 
and  substance  ot  true  worship. 

METHODS 

The  ways  of  securing  benevolent  funds  in  our  Presbytery  are  an 
interesting  and  instructive  stud}’.  The  stages  of  progress  are  similar 


to  the  growth  of  this  grace  in  the  church  as  a  whole.  The  Scotch-Irish 
love  for  the  old  ways  and  customs  and  aversion  to  religious  innovations 
accounts  for  the  slowness  in  making  the  radical  changes  in  church 
methods  that  the  shrewd  Scot  would  apply  in  business.  No  special 
plan  was  devised  by  the  Presbytery  and  put  into  operation  such  as  the 
Bellefonte,  Redstone  and  other  plans. 

A  collection  is  the  first  term  used  in  the  record.  It  was  indeed  a 
a  free-will  offering  and  taken  for  a  special  object  and  without  a  pre¬ 
vious  announcement.  Such  offerings  were  always  small,  gathered  in  a 
hat  or  two  before  more  convenient  substitutes  were  devised.  The 
first  and  only  recorded  offering  in  the  year  which  Presbytery  was  organ¬ 
ized  is  an  illustration.  It  amounted  to  $2.96  and  was  for  the  education 
of  poor  and  pious  youths  who  had  the  ministry  in  view.  This  offering 
had  some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  widow’s  mite.  It  was  small.  It  was 
voluntary.  It  was  a  tiny  expression  of  the  wealth  of  love  and  loyalty 
of  a  few  ministers  to  Him  who  had  brought  them  into  I  Iis  ministry 
and  a  few  Elders  whom  He  had  appointed  to  care  for  the  churches. 
This  small  gift  must  have  been  as  acceptable  to  Christ  as  the  widow’s 
mite. 

Later  accredited  agents  were  sent  to  the  churches.  Sometimes  pre¬ 
vious  arrangements  were  made  with  the  pastor  but  more  frequently  the 
pastor  and  congregation  were  made  aware  by  the  agent’s  appearance. 
Out  of  courtesy  to  the  cause  which  the  agent  represented  the  service  was 
placed  at  his  disposal  and  the  needs  explained.  The  agent  would  then 
proceed  to  take  subscriptions  payable  at  a  future  date.  It  was  well 
that  the  Boards  were  few  in  number  for  the  congregation  was  deprived 
of  the  special  message  of  their  own  shepherd.  Besides  some  agents  were 
so  persistent  for  their  own  cause  and  were  so  lacking  in  consideration 
for  other  objects  as  worthy,  perhaps  more  so  than  his  own,  that  pre¬ 
judice  was  created  against  the  system  and  the  succeeding  causes  re¬ 
ceived  smaller  gifts  than  they  justly  deserved.  It  was  soon  seen  that 
this  method  was  too  slow,  expensive  and  inefficient.  To  improve  upon 
this  method  the  Boards  sought  to  have  a  representative  in  each  Pres¬ 
bytery.  In  this  way  much  rivalry  and  suspicion  as  to  the  fidelity  of 
the  agents,  could  be  removed.  But  this  advance  had  its  faults  too. 
The  Board  that  could  secure  the  most  popular  and  enthusiastic  min¬ 
ister,  one  who  would  press  his  cause  in  season  and  out  of  season,  re¬ 
ceived  the  larger  gifts.  These  volunteer  workers,  however  enthusiastic, 
were  gratlv  handicapped  when  they  sought  generous  offerings.  The 
people  saw  these  gifts  go  out  of  their  bounds  to  foster  other  fields  of 
endeavor  while- they  were  receiving  no  encouragement  or  assistance  in 
their  struggles,  as  real  and  needy  often  as  those  whose  needs  were 
stressed.  Then  Presbytery,  in  order  to  have  more  complete  and  orderly 
supervision  of  all  benevolences  began  to  appoint  committees  for  the 


various  causes.  This  gradually  developed  into  standing  committees  or 
as  now  called  Permanent  Committees. 

To  avoid  the  omission  or  bunching  of  these  causes  the  Assembly 
sought  to  distribute  its  causes  throughout  the  ecclesiastical  year. 
Home  Missions  were  ordered  in  a  definite  month  and  so  were  all  the 
other  Boards.  It  was  customary  to  announce  the  particular  object  one 
or  two  Sabbaths  before  the  offering  would  be  expected  so  that  the 
people  might  be  prepared.  It  had,  however,  this  effect  that  those  who 
were  not  interested  in  that  particular  cause  or  were  opposed  to  it  were 
not  present  on  those  days  for  reasons  quite  apparent  to  their  fellow 
worshipers.  Or  if  the  appointed  day  was  very  stormy  or  the  roads 
almost  impassable  with  mud  or  frozen  hummocks,  only  the  most  fait h- 
ful  would  be  present.  The  offering  would  be  small  in  either  case  and 
was  taken  as  a  general  collection  or  by  personal  subscription.  I  he 
latter  was  the  more  profitable  method  for  the  Boards  and  was  in  use 
before  the  writer  became  pastor  of  the  Middlesex  Church  and  was 
used  throughout  his  service  in  that  noble  church. 

Gifts  under  this  regime  were  so  variable  and  irregular  that  no 
Board  could  estimate  what  funds  it  could  reasonably  expect  in  a  given 
year.  If  any  Board  sought  to  make  a  slight  advance  by  meeting  the 
most  pressing  opportunities  it  was  usually  confronted  with  a  debt  and 
if  an  appeal  was  made  to  pay  this  debt  the  Board  was  open  to  the 
insinuation  that  it  was  too  ready  to  advance  or  that  it  had  not  prac¬ 
ticed  economy.  The  real  cause  was  in  the  system  not  in  the  judgment 
or  fidelity  and  economy  of  its  officers.  Business  advances  only  when  a 
stead}'  and  regular  supply  of  working  funds  are  supplied  and  church 
progress  is  measured  by  the  increase  of  the  funds  placed  in  the  hands 
of  its  executive  agencies. 

To  remedy  this  situation  Systematic  Giving  was  proposed  and  the 
plan  secured  a  more  regular  supply  for  the  Boards,  but  the  large  increase 
in  funds  hoped  for  failed  to  materialize.  About  the  same  amount  was 
given  but  more  regularly  distributed  throughout  the  year.  Then  Pro¬ 
portionate  Giving  was  tried.  This  was  a  move  in  the  right  direction, 
but  as  the  proportion  was  left  wholly  to  the  judgment  or  desire  of  the 
giver  the  increase  of  gilts  was  substantial,  but  not  as  large  as  antici¬ 
pated.  This,  however,  it  did:  it  secured  a  minimum  and  dependable 
sum  with  small  but  steady  increase  year  by  year.  Canny  human 
nature  of  Christians  rarely  risks  too  much-  It  plays  safety  first  and 
heeds  the  doctrine  “Sell  preservation  is  the  first  law  of  Nature.” 

The  efforts  of  some  congregations  to  distribute  their  local  or  con¬ 
gregational  expenses  among  its  membership  according  to  their  several 
ability  brought  such  good  results  that  the  same  principle  was  applied 
to  securing  benevolent  funds.  The  results  were  equally  gratifying  and 
the  Every  Member  Canvass  is  based  on  the  principle  that  the  whole 


59 


duty  of  a  particular  church  rests  upon  its  entire  membership  in  the 
church. 

The  Stewardship  Principle  has  been  stressed  in  this  Presbytery. 
The  first  chairman  of  this  committee,  Rev.  Paul  McConkey  urged  the 
adoption  of  the  tithe  of  the  income  as  the  minimum  basis  of  giving  for 
church  members  with  the  result  that  805  individuals  endorsed  this  plan. 
The  distribution  of  this  tithe  of  the  income  or  separated  portion  is  left 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  tit  her.  Many  of  this  noble  band  divided 
the  tithe  in  equal  parts;  for  ourselves  and  others  and  a  few  churches 
have  made  their  canvass  on  this  basis  and  with  most  happy  social  and 
financial  results. 

Each  improvement  in  method  strengthened  the  gifts  to  the  Boards 
whose  business  is  to  show  our  interest  in  others  by  the  substantial  ser¬ 
vice  rendered.  In  business  better  methods  get  results.  Better  business 
methods  in  the  churches  have  proved  the  readiness  and  willingness  of 
the  rank  and  file  of  Christians  to  assume  a  just  share  of  the  maintenance 
of  the  work  at  home  and  across  the  sea.  This  assumption  that 
the  job  is  the  job  of  the  entire  church  membership  and  all  must  seek  to 
do  it  has  made  a  remarkable  appeal.  The  financial  gains  have  been 
splendid  but  money  is  the  least  important  result.  The  individual  and 
the  local  church  now  realize  their  duty  and  privilege  as  never  before. 
In  coming  into  this  personal  relation  with  God  the  individual  is  cheered 
by  a  multitude  of  equally  zealous  and  enthusiastic  lovers  of  Christ  and 
I  lis  Cause.  It  is  a  high  privilege  to  share  heartily  in  this  advanced 
movement  in  our  church. 

Missions:  Home  and  Foreign 

1'he  earlv  Scotch  Irish  settlers  east  and  west  of  the  Alleghenv  River 
had  experienced  in  their  former  homes,  in  the  middle  and  eastern  coun¬ 
ties  of  the  state,  the  powerful  influence  of  the  revival  originating  with 
the  Tennents.  The  isolation  in  their  new  homes  created  a  deep  hunger 
for  the  Word  of  Life  and  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord’s  I  louse  and  when 
they  began  to  be  supplied  with  the  means  of  grace  they  sought  to  carry 
the  Gospel  into  all  parts  that  were  hungering  for  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus  Christ.  They  voluntarily  loaned  their  pastor  for  as  much  as  four 
to  six  weeks  at  a  time  to  minister  in  frontier  settlements  or  in  vacant 
congregations.  Sometimes  Presbytery  or  Synod  would  direct  its  most 
active  and  evangelistic  pastors  to  visit  needy  sections  and  the  congrega¬ 
tions  cheerfully  acceded  to  the  request  which  meant  so  much  to  their 
hungry  souls.  Licentiates  were  expected  to  spend  six  months  or  a  year 
itinerating  in  frontier  communities  before  assuming  a  pastorate.  1  his 
direct  personal  experience  as  missionaries  accounts  largely  for  the  mis¬ 
sionary  interest  and  zeal  that  has  not  only  characterized  this  section  in 
the  century  now  past  but  has  made  this  region  conspicuous  lor  the  num- 


60 


ber  of  workers  who  have  entered  the  Home  and  Foreign  Mission  service 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

When  Paul  declared,  “1  am  not  ashamed  for  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
for  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  to  the  Jew  first  and  also  to 
the  Greek."  he  prepared  the  program  for  the  Christian  Church.  Christ’s 
Church  must  ever  be  witnessing  for  Christ  at  home  and  unto  the  ends 
of  the  world  with  equal  zest  and  efficiency.  Her  life,  her  strength  and 
progress  have  been  proportioned  to  her  efforts  to  convert  all  men  from 
the  error  of  their  ways  and  to  build  them  up  through  the  Word,  the 
ordinances  and  personal  service  into  Christian  spirit  and  character. 

Next  to  the  local  work  of  the  church,  which  was  her  first  and  pri¬ 
mary  duty,  was  the  responsibility  of  carrying  the  Gospel  into  every 
destitute  community.  In  1821  the  whole  amount  due  all  the  mission¬ 
aries  was  $2,275.52  and  to  this  significant  statement  was  appended  “that 
the  salaries  of  missionaries  hereinafter  to  be  employed  to  be  reduced 
to  thirty-three  dollars  per  month."  This  meant  retrenchment. 

The  total  missionary  contribution  in  1823  for  the  Presbytery  was 
$93.63  and  in  1838  when  the  distinction  is  first  made  between  Home 
and  Foreign  Missions  in  the  Statistical  Report  of  Presbytery  the  sum 
had  grown  to  $343.44.  The  portion  of  this  fund  devoted  to  missions 
in  foreign  lands  had  been  administered  through  the  American  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  from  its  organization  in  1810. 

However  for  some  years  there  had  been  some  rivalry  and  hostility 
between  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  the 
American  Home  Missionary  Society  in  the  management  of  their  mis¬ 
sionary  activities  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Much  bitterness  had  been 
engendered  and  the  controversy  became  acute.  The  plan  of  union, 
which  had  been  adopted  in  1801,  was  far  from  satisfactory  to  the  con¬ 
servative  element  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  who  held  that  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  was  powerless  to  redress  the  laxity  of  doctrine  and 
practice  so  long  as  that  compact  was  in  force.  The  effort  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  1830  to  compose  the  differences  of  these  two  agencies  in 
the  West  by  creating  a  Common  Board,  located  in  the  disputed  terri¬ 
tory  to  manage  the  combined  work  of  the  two  Boards,  was  after  pro¬ 
longed  discussion  indefinitely  postponed  and  this  action  was  an  admis¬ 
sion  that  reconciliation  was  impossible.  Rev.  John  Munson  was  ap¬ 
pointed  Presbytery’s  delegate  to  the  Cincinnati  Convention  called  for 
November  23,  1831,  to  consider  all  matters  involved  and  to  propose 
a  line  of  action.  As  indicating  clearly  the  mind  of  Presbytery,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  resolutions  are  recorded:  “That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Pres¬ 
bytery  that  the  General  Assembly  is  equally  competent  to  the  entire 
supervision  and  control  of  Domestic  Missions  within  its  pale  as  the 
management  of  any  other  ecclesiastical  concerns.  That  this  delegate  be 
instructed  to  represent  in  said  convention  that,  in  the  opinion  of  this 


Presbytery,  all  missionary  operations  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  ought  to  be  under  the  sole  direction  of  the  general  Assembly, 
unconnected  with  any  voluntary  association  whatever.  That,  should 
this  delegate  be  prevented  from  attending  said  convention  then  a  copy 
of  these  resolutions,  properly  attested,  shall  by  him  be  forwarded  to 
the  said  convention  as  expressive  of  the  views  of  this  Presbytery  on  the 
contemplated  subject.” 

On  June  24,  1835,  Presbytery  took  further  action  on  Missionaries, 
viz:  “  I  hat  in  view  of  the  great  importance  of  supplying  the  destitute 
in  our  new  States  and  in  our  frontier  generally  with  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel,  in  order  to  counteract  the  influences  of  the  diversified  and  per¬ 
nicious  errors  so  widely  and  industriously  spread  by  many  who  profess 
to  derive  their  authority  from  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  this  Pres¬ 
bytery  will  take  measures  to  procure  funds  as  soon  as  practicable  to  aid 
in  meeting  the  present  danger  and  in  sustaining  the  operations  of  the 
General  Assembly’s  Board  of  Missions.”  Nothing  is  equivocal  in  this 
statement  of  the  fathers.  Their  conservative  ire  was  fully  aroused. 
Their  sympathy  and  support  was  wholly  in  favor  of  the  constitution  of 
the  Old  School  Party.  The  real  mind  of  Presbytery  was  expressed  in 
an  unanimous  resolution,  April,  1837,  “That  the  delegate  from  this  Pres¬ 
bytery  to  the  next  General  Assembly  be  instructed  in  case  the  General 
Assembly  does  not  take  measures  to  remove  the  present  ground  of  diffi¬ 
culties  in  our  church  or  in  case  our  New  School  brethren  persevere  in 
encouraging  departure  from  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  the  standards 
of  our  church,  as  they  have  heretofore  done,  to  unite  with  such  in  the 
convention  to  meet  in  Philadelphia  in  May  next  (provide  a  majority 
of  said  convention  concur)  in  taking  immediate  measures  for  the 
orthodox  to  separate  from  the  New  School  by  such  means  as  may  be 
thought  most  expedient.”  This  action  served  notice  that  Allegheny 
Presbytery  protested  against  the  money  contributed  by  conservative 
congregations  being  used  for  the  dissemination  of  views  of  radical  ten¬ 
dencies. 

The  Home  Mission  Funds  in  1839  were  $91.25  and  came  from 
twenty-seven  churches  but  the  gifts  continued  to  increase  until  the 
reunion  of  1870  when  thirty  churches  contributed  $696.00  or  more  than 
seven  fold. 


Revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith 

The  reunion  of  the  Old  School  and  New  School  organizations  in 
1869  was  affected  on  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical  basis  of  our  com¬ 
mon  standards  pure  and  simple.  It  was  in  effect  the  reviving  of  the 
status  pure  and  simple.  It  was  in  effect  the  reviving  of  the  status  prior 
to  1837,  an  acknowledgment  of  the  integrity,  soundness  and  orthodoxy 


62 


of  each  body  and  a  sincere  and  brotherly  readiness  to  obliterate  all  the 
bitterness,  rivalry  and  antagonism  engendered  in  this  most  unhappy 
separation.  Great  and  sincere  was  the  rejoicing  over  this  union  and  the 
Psalmist  truly  voiced  this  enthusiasm:  “Behold,  how  good  and  pleasant 
it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity/’  The  real  doctrinal  dif¬ 
ferences  were  not  settled,  only  held  in  abeyance.  The  first  great  task 
of  the  reunited  church  was  to  calmly  and  deliberately  seek  to  correct 
“such  forms  of  statements  that  are  liable  to  misinterpretation  and  ex¬ 
pose  our  system  to  unmerited  criticism.”  This  great  object  was  attain¬ 
ed  through  two  movements;  the  revision  of  the  King  James  Version  of 
the  Bible  and  the  revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith.  To  revise,  amend 
or  modify  such  venerable  standards  was  regarded  as  sacrilegious  by 
some  and  a  most  difficult  if  not  impossible  task,  to  satisfactorily  improve 
these  symbols.  But  where  the  church  faced  her  duty  with  faith  and 
courage,  God  was  present  to  guide. 

In  the  very  year  of  the  reunion  and  within  six  weeks  after  that 
event  was  accomplished  the  English  Revisers  began  the  work  of  revising 
the  King  James  Version  of  the  Bible  and  extended  a  cordial  invitation 
to  American  scholars  to  share  in  this  contribution  of  scholarship  to  the 
whole  Christian  Church.  This  invitation  was  promptly  accepted,  and 
the  two  committees  labored  with  such  unwearied  interest  and  zeal  that 
the  New  Testament  was  completed  in  1881  and  the  entire  Bible  three 
years  later.  This  achievement  is  basic  and  fundamental  to  all  doctrinal 
or  ecclesiastical  investigations  because  it  is  a  faithful  restatement  of  the 
mind  of  God  in  conservative  English  with  the  preferences  of  the  English 
Revisers  used  in  the  text. 

In  1901,  however,  the  American  Revision  Committee  brought  out 
the  Standard  Edition  embodying  the  preferences  of  the  American  Com¬ 
mittee  and  this  work  has  steadily  been  increasing  in  the  favor  and  confi¬ 
dence  of  earnest  searchers  of  the  Word  of  God.  These  completed  re¬ 
visions,  the  English  and  the  American,  were  of  great  value  in  the  revision 
of  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

The  great  love  for  the  pure  Word  on  the  part  of  the  revisers  allays 
an\'  fears  that  modern  critical  views  would  mould  biblical  expression 
and  enable  our  church  to  face  its  related  duty  of  revising  the  Confes¬ 
sion  of  Faith,  with  courage.  Sporadic  articles  in  the  religious  press  and 
occasional  overtures  were  insisting  that  this  duty  be  no  longer  delayed 
and  in  1889  the  General  Assembly  sent  down  two  questions  to  the  Pres¬ 
byteries,  viz:  “Do  you  desire  a  revision  of  the  Confession  of  Faith? 
If  so,  in  what  respect  and  to  what  extent?”  These  questions  aroused 
intense  interest  and  discussion.  Conservatives  feared  that  if  the  efforts 
to  amend  were  successful,  the  grand  old  Confession  would  only  be 
marred  and  mutilated  and  the  habit  of  tinkering  would  increase  and 
finally  rob  this  ancient  symbol  of  its  symmetry  and  loyalty  to  the  Bible. 


63 


Especially  were  our  elders  conservative,  more  so  than  the  ministers. 
That  Butler  Presbytery  was  thoroughly  aroused  is  clear  from  the  fact 
that  the  first  question  was  answered  in  the  negative  by  a  vote  of  sixteen 
to  fifteen.  Those  favoring  the  revision  in  varying  degrees,  stoutly  as¬ 
serted  their  loyalty  and  devotion  to  “the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in 
the  Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Sacred  Scriptures”  and  besought  their 
brethren  not  only  to  trust  them  enough  to  revise  the  statements  liable  to 
misinterpretation  but  also  to  assist  in  clarifying  the  mooted  points. 

A  majority  of  the  Presbyterians  favored  revision  in  varying  de¬ 
grees  and  forms  and  when  the  Assembly’s  Committee  on  Revision  had 
arranged  the  data  received  from  the  Presbyteries,  twenty-eight  overtures 
were  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  consideration.  In  our  Presbytery 
there  was  a  division  in  the  committee  appointed  to  propose  the  proper 
action  for  Presbytery.  The  majority  presented  its  report,  “recommend¬ 
ing  that  Presbytery  decline  to  answer  the  overtures  because  of  doubts 
as  to  their  having  been  submitted  in  a  constitutional  way.”  Though 
no  minority  report  was  filed,  Dr.  J.  R.  Coulter  proposed  the  following 
substitute,  “That  in  view  of  the  difficulty,  now  more  apparent  than 
formerly,  of  revising  the  Confession  of  Faith  so  as  to  satisfy  the  church 
better  than  it  does,  Presbytery  refuses  to  sanction  the  work  of  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Assembly’s  Committee  and  asks  that  the  revision  of  our  doctrinal 
standards  be  abandoned  for  the  present.”  This  substitute  was  negatived 
and  the  majority  report  was  adopted.  Not  one  of  the  overtures  received 
the  support  of  two-thirds  of  the  Presbyteries  as  required  by  the  constitu¬ 
tion.  Though  the  overtures  were  defeated,  the  interest  continued  to 
increase  in  activity  and  importance.  A  few  years  of  further  study 
apart  from  the  excitement  of  heated  discussion  revealed  the  true  mind 
of  the  church.  In  answering  the  questions  sent  down  in  1900  by  the  As¬ 
sembly,  Presbytery  expressed  a  “preference  for  a  brief  and  plain  state¬ 
ment  of  the  doctrines  held  by  our  church,  such  statement  to  be  made  so 
as  to  conserve  the  doctrine  of  the  Calvinistic  system  inviolable.”  A 
brief  statement  of  Reformed  Faith  was  presented  by  the  Committee  on 
Revision  to  the  General  Assembly  in  1902  and  adopted,  “to  give  inform¬ 
ation  and  a  better  understanding  of  our  doctrinal  belief  and  not  with 
a  view  to  its  becoming  a  substitute  or  an  alternate  for  our  Confession  of 
Faith.”  In  this  year  eleven  overtures  and  additional  chapters  on  the 
Fove  of  God  and  Missions  and  the  Holy  Spirit  were  placed  before  the 
Presbyteries  for  action.  All  the  overtures  were  approved,  receiving 
from  215  to  222  affirmative  votes  out  of  238  Presbyteries.  This  delay 
of  ten  years  proved  most  valuable  to  the  church.  Differences  of  judg¬ 
ment  were  reconciled.  Criticism  was  allayed  and  an  increasing  confi¬ 
dence  in  a  great  conservative  branch  of  Christianity  that  could  accom¬ 
plish  the  remarkable  fact  of  revising  its  venerable  symbols  without 
causing  schisms,  were  soon  apparent  on  every  hand. 


64 


Fruits  of  Revision 

Immediate  fruits  followed  the  revision  completed  in  1903.  The 
Assembly  of  that  year  appointed  a  committee  on  Co-operation  and 
Union  to  confer  with  other  bodies  of  the  Presbyterian  family  desiring 
closer  relations.  The  result  was  the  formation  of  the  Council  of  Re¬ 
formed  Faith  and  Presbyterian  Polity  comprising  Reformed  Presby¬ 
terian  (General  Synod),  Reformed  Church  in  America,  Presbyterian 
Church  in  U.  S.,  Reformed  Church  in  U.  S.,  and  the  Associate  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church.  This  body  is  exerting  a  strong  and  helpful  influ¬ 
ence  in  matters  of  faith  and  closer  relations  among  churches  holding 
the  Presbyterian  system. 

W  hile  the  revision  was  in  progress  and  especially  when  the  Confes¬ 
sion  of  Faith  was  amended  by  change  of  text,  declaratory  statements 
and  additional  chapters  on  the  Love  of  God  and  Missions  and  the  I  Ioly 
Spirit,  thereby  removing  all  so  called  grounds  of  doctrinal  misappre¬ 
hensions,  there  was  a  growing  desire  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  for  reunion  and  union.  This  movement  culminated  in  reunion 
in  1896  “on  the  doctrinal  basis  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  as  rev  ised  in  1903, 
and  of  its  other  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical  standards,  and  the  Scrip¬ 
tures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  shall  be  acknowledged  as  the  in¬ 
spired  Word  of  God,  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice.” 
The  sincerity  and  enthusiasm  for  this  union,  after  almost  a  century  of 
separation  is  realized  when  each  of  the  one  hundred  and  fourteen  Pres- 
bvteries  of  the  Cumberland  Church  and  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  out 
of  two  hundred  and  forty-one  Presbyteries  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
had  registered  their  approval  by  May  10,  1906.  Rejoicing  that  almost 
equaled  that  of  1870  attended  the  final  steps  of  this  union.  Later  this 
exultation  was  marred  by  a  small  minority  in  some  Presbyteries  and 
Synods  of  the  former  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  who  contested 
in  the  courts  the  validity  of  the  union  and  the  right  of  the  united 
church  to  the  property  acquired  from  the  Cumberland  Church.  In  the 
unfortunate  litigation  that  followed,  the  united  church  acted  on  the  de¬ 
fensive  and  was  finally  declared  entitled  to  the  property  rights.  The 
statistics  for  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  for  1906  showed 
1514  ministers,  9614  elders,  1869  churches,  145.411  members,  and 
106,386  Sabbath  school  members.  This  large  body  of  Christians  work¬ 
ed  largely  in  the  South  and  Southwest  parts  of  our  country  and  all  who 
have  entered  the  union  have  abundantly  proved  their  sincerity  and 
loyalty. 

Prior  to  the  Civil  War  there  were  two  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Churches  in  Butler  County,  one  in  Prospect  and  one  in  West  Liberty. 
These  churches  were  composed  of  intelligent  and  loyal  people  but 
never  had  a  large  membership.  Both  of  these  organizations  were 


65 


located  in  well  churched  communities  and  as  there  was  no  opportunity 
for  growth  the  membership  gradually  declined.  The  church  at  West 
Liberty  ceased  to  hold  services  at  all.  On  June  21,  1887,  a  paper  was 
read  in  Presbytery  from  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pros¬ 
pect  “expressing  the  desire  of  this  church  to  be  received  under  the  care 
of  this  Presbytery  and  to  be  united  with  the  Presbyterians  in  and  near 
Prospect/’  The  request  set  forth  in  the  paper  was  granted  and  Revs. 
Samuel  Williams,  W.  E.  Oiler  and  Elder  R.  1.  Boggs  were  appointed  to 
organize  a  church  in  Prospect  before  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery. 
This  duty  was  performed  July  8,  1887,  and  the  church  named  Prospect. 

Two  other  Cumberland  Churches  were  within  the  bounds  of  Pres¬ 
bytery.  The  churches  of  Irwin  and  Kennerdell  in  Venango  County 
were  transferred  to  Butler  Presbytery  as  a  result  of  the  reunion  of  1906, 
and  Revs.  Carey  Steward,  George  C.  Miller  and  Elbert  Hefner,  who 
served  the  Crestview  Church  for  a  year,  were  dismissed  to  this  Pres¬ 
bytery. 

An  effort  that  failed  should  be  briefly  referred  to  in  this  connection. 
After  some  years  of  labor,  joint  committees  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  U.  S.  A.  and  the  Reformed  Church  in  U.  S.,  presented  a  plan  of 
union  which  was  adopted  by  their  respective  ecclesiastical  judicatories, 
unanimously  by  the  Presbyterian  Assembly  and  almost  so  by  the  Re¬ 
formed  Synod,  and  was  transmitted  to  the  Presbyteries  and  Classes  for 
consideration  and  action.  Two  hundred  and  twenty  Presbyteries  approv¬ 
ed  and  three  voted  in  the  negative  but  the  surprise  came  when  two-thirds 
of  the  Classes  rejected  the  proposal.  While  the  basis  proposed  was  con¬ 
sidered  equitable  and  just  to  both  churches  and  the  result  equally  dis¬ 
appointing,  friendly  relations  are  continued  and  years  of  delay  will 
bring  fruits  that  will  honor  God  and  His  Church. 

Efforts  were  initiated  in  1908  and  continued  in  1909  to  consolidate 
the  Welsh  Calvanistic  Methodist  Church  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  L.  S.  A.  After  delays  for  various  reasons  and  without  any 
dimunition  of  zeal  or  effort  the  union  was  consumated  May  22,  1920. 
This  addition  of  seventy-two  ministers,  one  hundred  and  thirty-one 
churches  and  about  fourteen  thousand  communicants  is  not  to  be  meas¬ 
ured  by  its  size  but  by  its  Christian  zeal  in  ministering  to  the  Welsh 
race  scattered  throughout  Vermont,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  the  Dakotas  and  various  parts  of  Canada. 

Closer  relations  with  the  United  Presbyterian  Churches  has  been 
cordial  and  encouraging  but  necessarily  slower  than  the  movements  just 
considered  because  that  church  is  so  loyal  to  the  exclusive  use  of  the 
Psalms  in  public  worship.  Efforts  to  co-ordinate  and  federate  churches 
into  more  efficient  pastoral  groupings  is  encouraged  by  both  churches 
and  splendid  results  are  beginning  to  develop,  the  first  fruits  of  a  better 
day. 


66 


Consolidation  Movements 

In  1821  there  were  four  Presbyterian  denominations  working 
among  the  settlers,  principally  Scotch-I  rish,  west  of  the  Allegheny 
Mountains.  These  Reformed,  Associate  and  Associate  Reformed  Pres¬ 
byterians  wasted  no  love  on  each  other  but  were  zealous  for  their  dis¬ 
tinctive  principles.  The  fourth  denomination  was  the  Presbyterian 
Church  which  was  too  liberal  in  many  of  its  positions. 

In  religious  bodies  those  nearest  in  doctrine,  practice  and  life  are 
often  the  slowest  to  consolidate.  Marvels  never  cease  and  the  unexpect¬ 
ed  often  happens.  The  General  Assembly  adopted  this  resolution, 
“Whereas  the  Associate  Reformed  Church  and  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America  are  one  in  their  Confession  of  Faith 
and  Form  of  Government;  and  whereas  the  Assembly  knows  of  no  rea¬ 
son  whv  these  two  ecclesiastical  bodies  should  not  become  visibly  one 
church,  as  we  trust  we  are  one  in  Christ  Jesus  to  the  glory  of  God.” 
Then  they  appointed  a  strong  committee  of  five  to  wait  on  the  General 
Synod  then  in  session  in  the  same  city  of  Philadelphia.  Their  cordial 
welcome,  resolution  and  address  touched  a  responsive  chord  and  a  similar 
committee  was  appointed.  This  joint  committee  of  conference  soon 
“agreed  that  a  union  of  the  two  churches  is  both  desirable  and  prac¬ 
ticable”  and  proceeded  to  prepare  articles  as  “the  basis  of  such  union.” 
These  articles  having  been  unanimously  approved  by  both  committees 
were  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  and  the  General  Synod.  These 
bodies  approved  the  basis  of  the  union  and  sent  them  down  to  the  Pres¬ 
byteries  for  consideration  and  action.  Doubtless  this  Presbytery  gave  its 
approval  though  no  record  is  made  for  many  years  of  the  adoption  of 
the  overtures  sent  down  by  the  Assembly.  The  majority  of  the  Asso¬ 
ciate  Reformed  Presbyteries  approved  the  union  and  the  union  was 
publicly  proclaimed.  The  larger  part  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church  was  merged  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Two  men  of  influ¬ 
ence  in  church  affairs,  George  Junkin  and  John  M.  Mason,  came  from 
the  Associate  Reformed  Church. 

The  spirit  manifested  by  the  Assembly  in  suggesting  this  union 
and  in  preparing  the  way  for  it  has  characterized  its  century  of  history. 

I  hree  records  set  forth  the  views  of  the  Presbytery  in  regard  to 
the  proposed  union  of  the  Old  and  New  School  Churches.  These  are 
too  long  to  be  incorporated  but  the  conservatism  of  the  Presbytery  and 
its  loyalty  to  the  standards  and  form  of  government  are  clearly  shown 
and  definitely  stated  as  follows:  “W  e  sincerely  and  earnestly  desire  the 
reunion,  etc.”;  “We  desire  this  reunion  to  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal 
and  ecclesiastical  basis  of  our  common  standards,  sincerely  received  and 
adopted.”  “They  were  good  enough  for  our  fathers,  they  are  good 
enough  for  us.” 


67 


What  a  contrast  between  the  disunion  of  1837  and  when  on  Novem¬ 
ber  12,  1869,  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  the  reunion  was  completed. 
Bells  rang  and  tears  flowed  for  joy  while  hearts  beat  fast,  as  the  moder¬ 
ators,  clerks,  joint  committees  and  commissioners  of  the  Old  School 
and  New  School  Assemblies  marched  with  linked  arms  to  the  Third 
Church  through  the  crowded  streets. 


Statistical  Material 


ORIGINAL  PASTORS  AND  CHURCHES 

John  McPherrin . Butler  and  Concord 

Abraham  Boyd . Bull  Creek  and  Deer  Creek 

Robert  McGarough . Rehoboth  and  Licking 

Cyrus  Riggs . Scrubgrass  and  Unity 

Reed  Bracken . Nebo  and  Middlesex 

John  Redic . Slatelick  and  Union 

John  Munson . Plain  Grove  and  Center 

Alexander  Cook  received  April  3,  1821,  and  installed  June 
28,  1821,  over  Ebenezer  and  Bear  Creek. 

Amity  \ 

Franklin  ) 

Red  Bank  / Unable  to  Support  a  Pastor 

Eight  Tracts  \ 

Richland  / 

CHURCHES  ORGANIZED 


ALLEGHENY 


Franklin 


I  Organized . July  28,  1817 

|  Reorganized . July,  1821 

Rockland . 1822 

Richland  . 1823 

Brookville  . 1824 

Beechwood . December  3,  1832 

Tarentum  . 1832 

Freeport . July  3,  1833 

Pisgah  . 1833 

Upper  Bull  Creek  (Westminster).... 

. June  12,  1835 

Bethesda  . 1836 

Callensburg  . 1838 

Rich  Hill . February  7,  1840 

Alt.  Tabor  . 1840 

Clinton ville . February  9,  1841 

Clarion . May  15,  1841 

Greenwood . June  3,  1841 

Buffalo . August  3,  1843 


Brady’s  Bend . April  8,  1845 

Pleasant  Valley.. .June  25,  Oct.  21,  1845 

Zelienople . November  6,  1846 

West  Glade  Run . March,  1847 

New  Salem . July  12,  1847 

North  Butler . January  18,  1848 

Clinton . June  7,  1852 

Centerville  (Slippery  Rock) . 

. April  18,  1854 

Leesburg . April  26,  1856 

West  Sunbury . September  4,  1860 

Summit . May  2,  1864 

Natrona  . 1864 

Alartinsburg . November  21,  1870 

Linnville  (Jefferson  Center) . 

. July  8,  1871 

Harlansburg . February  18,  1875 

Allegheny . May  20,  1875 

Fair  view . August  12,  1875 


68 


Karns  Citv . 

November  16, 

1876 

Prospect . 

_ _ 1  uly  8,  1887 

Petrolia . 

. |uly  10, 

1877 

Crestview . .. 

. August  20,  1890 

Millerstown . 

. July  11, 

1877 

Rehoboth  ( Millbrook). .October  7,  1890 

Unionville . 

.October  30, 

1877 

Butler  Second . 

. October  11,  1897 

New  1  lope . 

.November  17, 

1879 

Mars . 

. . January  10,  1898 

North  Washington... 

. May  8, 

1880 

East  Butler . 

...  September  27,  1908 

North  Lihertv . . 

_ June  21, 

1880 

I. 

RECEIVED 

Amity  (Temporarily  1829  and 

1830) 

.December  3,  1850 

Free  Presbyterian 

Church  of  Buffalo  (Worthington). 

...October  16,  1866 

Pine  Grove  (Grove  City)  by  Reunion . November  12,  1869 

Prospect  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church . July  8,  1889 

Parker  City  from  Kittanning  Presbytery . October  25,  1897 


Evans  City  from  Allegheny  Presbytery . June  14,  1898 

Plains  from  Allegheny  Presbytery . .June  14,  1898 

Irwin  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church . . . June  30,  1907 

Sc ru bgr ass  (a)  Presbyterian  Church  (Kennerdell) .  June  30,  1907 

Mars  from  Allegheny  Presbytery . April  14,  1908 

Lisbon  Associated  Reformed  Presbyterian . September  15,  1914 

11.  TRANSFERRED 

Franklin  to  Erie  Presbytery  before  September  19,  1826. 

Licking,  New  Rehoboth,  Bethesda,  Leatherwood,  East  Concord, 
Greenville,  Richland,  Rockland,  Brookville,  Beechwoods,  Pisgah,  Cal- 
lensburg,  Mt.  Tabor,  Clarion,  Greenwood,  Perry  and  Seneca  were  order¬ 
ed  to  form  Clarion  Presbytery  October  22,  1841,  and  were  organized 
the  second  Tuesday  of  January,  1842. 

Slate  Lick,  Union,  Ebenezer  (Parker  City),  Freeport,  Brady’s  Bend, 
West  Glade  Run,  and  Clinton  were  ordered  to  form  Saltsburg  Presby¬ 
tery,  and  organized  January  6,  1857. 

Natrona,  Tarentum  and  Cross  Roads  were  to  aid  in  forming  Alle¬ 
gheny  Presbytery  July  9,  1870,  and  these  churches  temporarily,  Plains, 
June  28,  1864.  Evans  City,  Mars,  April  11,  1899. 

Worthington  was  sent  to  Kittanning  Presbytery  July  9,  1870. 

Leesburg,  1873,  Rich  Hill,  1873,  and  Idarlansburg  were  sent  to  She- 
nango  Presbytery,  which  was  organized  July  9,  1870. 

III.  NAMES  CHANGED 


Eight  Tracts  to  Portersville . April  3,  1834 

Unit}-  to  Harrisville. . . . ...April  5,  1836 

Upper  Bull  Creek  to  Westminster. . . . April  19,  1852 

Buffalo  at  Worthington  to  Worthington. . November  13,  1866 

Linnville  to  Jefferson  Center . . . April  22,  1873 

Pine  Grove  to  Grove  City . .October  28,  1884 

Rehoboth  to  Millbrook . April  25,  1893 


69 


Centerville  to  Slippery  Rock . April  15,  1902 

Butler  to  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Butler . April  17,  1906 

Scrubgrass  (a)  to  Kennerdell . April  22,  1908 


IV.  CHURCHES  THAT  WITHDREW 

1.  Bear  Creek.  2.  Ebenezer  in  part  and  3.  Unity  in  part  during 
the  year  1834  and  identified  themselves  with  the  Associate  Reformed 
Presbytery  that  covered  this  section.  The  Fairview  United  Presbyter¬ 
ian  Church  is  the  successor  of  Bear  Creek  Church.  The  Parker  division 
ceased  to  exist  many  years  ago  and  West  Unity  United  Presbyterian 
Church  resulted  from  the  division  in  Unity. 


V.  CHURCHES  DISORGANIZED 

Ebenezer  asked  for  but  not  carried  out.  (See  page  332,  Yol.  D.) 
Millerstown  (Page  71,  Yol.  5.) 

Karns  City  ordered  April  28,  1881,  effected  June  16,  1891. 
Fairview  ordered  April  15,  1919,  effected  May  9,  1919. 


STATED  CLERKS 


Rev.  Reed  Bracken _ _ 

Rev.  John  Munson.. . 

Rev.  Loyal  Young . 

Rev.  John  R.  Agnew . 

Rev.  Leland  R.  McAboy... 

Rev.  Newton  Bracken . 

Rev.  Jonathan  R.  Coulter 


ALLEGHENY 

. April  3,  1821,  to  April  6,  1831 

. . . April  6,  1831,  to  April  4,  1837 

. April  4,  1837,  to  April  5,  1842 

. April  5,  1842,  to  April  14,  1846 

. April  14,  1846,  to  1853 

. April  11,  1854,  to  April  10,  1860 

. April  10,  1860,  to  July  9,  1870 

BUTLER 


Rev.  Jonathan  R.  Coulter . July  9,  1870,  to  April  21,  1896 

Rev.  Jonathan  Coulter,  5  years . April  21,  1896.  Died  January  12,  1901 

Rev.  W.  S.  McNees,  5  years . . . April  16,  1901 

Rev.  W.  S.  McNees,  5  years,  re-elected . April  17,  1906 

W.  S.  McNees,  5  years,  re-elected . .....April  11,  1911 

Rev.  W.  S.  McNees,  5  years,  re-elected . April  10.  1916 


PERMANENT  CLERKS 

Rev-  W.  S.  McNees,  3  years . April  21,  1896 

Rev.  W.  S.  McNees,  3  years . April  18,  1899,  resigned  April  16,  1901 

Rev.  W.  S.  McNees,  3  years 

Rev.  Thomas  R.  Lewis . April  16,  1901,  for  unexpired  term 

Rev.  Thomas  R.  Lewis,  3  years . . . . April  15,  1902 

Rev.  Thomas  R.  Lewis,  3  years . ...April,  1905.  Resigned  June  5,  1906 

Rev.  Wilson  H.  Sloan . September  18,  1906,  for  unexpired  term. 

Rev.  Wilson  H.  Sloan,  3  years . April  21,  1908,  to  May  1,  1910 


70 


Rev.  F:.  Benton  Shoemaker,  3  years.. . — . April  11,  1911 

Rev-  F.  Benton  Shoemaker,  3  years . April  13,  1914 

Rev.  Melzar  D.  McClelland . April  11,  1916,  for  unexpired  term. 

Rev.  Melzar  D.  McClelland,  3  years . April  10,  1917 

Rev.  Melzar  D.  McClelland,  3  years . April  13,  1920 


ORDINATIONS 


ALL EG 1 1 

ENT 

PRESBYTERY 

John  Coulter . . 

. Sept.  ID, 

1823 

John  Cairns . 

.  ..  lanuary  8, 

1851 

John  Glenn . 

....October  2D. 

1830 

Meade  Satterfield . 

February  12, 

1851 

I. oval  Young . 

...December  4, 

1S33 

John  V.  Miller . 

.November  4, 

1851 

Samuel  Caldwell . 

_ October  S, 

1834 

Robert  E.  Williams... 

..  |une  22, 

1852 

J.  W  atson  Johnston 

....October  12, 

1836 

David  Hall . . . 

November  5, 

1856 

John  R.  Agnew . 

. April  3, 

1838 

Samuel  Williams . 

. April  14, 

1857 

Robert  B.  W  alker  ... 

. April  2, 

1839 

Jonathan  R.  Coulter. 

. August  2 5, 

1857 

John  Turbitt . 

...  . June  23, 

1840 

W  m.  W  McKinney.. 

....October  29, 

1861 

Thomas  W  .  Kerr . 

. January  5, 

1841 

Samuel  Ramsey . 

dune  17, 

1862 

Newton  Bracken . 

. October  5, 

1841 

George  W  .  Jackson... 

. I une  23, 

1863 

Lewis  L.  Conrad . 

.. . June  17, 

1846 

James  S.  Boyd . 

September  8, 

1863 

lohn  .Moore . 

. . ...dune  22, 

1847 

John  W.  Potter . 

September  8, 

1863 

Ebenezer  Henrv . 

November  ID, 

1847 

losiah  McPherrin . 

. Nov.  7, 

1865 

Ephraim  Ogden . 

November  14, 

1848 

Alexander  Thompsor 

i . Nov.  20. 

1867 

William  Kean . 

..September  4. 

1849 

John  b  Francis..... . 

..October  22, 

1869 

David  Elliott  Campbell . June  5, 

1850 

BUTLER  PRESBYTERY 

July,  1 

870-1920 

Samuel  L.  Johnston 

. Nov.  15, 

1870 

Frank  E.  Simcox . 

. August  29, 

1893 

Carl  Linn . 

. April  26, 

1871 

W.  Lincoln  McClure 

. Sept.  12, 

1893 

Beriah  C.  Montgomerv . Oct.  22, 

1873 

S.  Arthur  Stewart . 

. April  25, 

1894 

Robert  McCaslin . 

. 1  une  23. 

1874 

Howard  Campbell . 

. July  29, 

1894 

[.  Park  Barbor . 

. October  13, 

1874 

Robert  I.  Alter . 

. October  2, 

1894 

James  A.  Menaul . 

.November  16, 

1875 

Paul  1.  Slonaker . 

. (une  25, 

1895 

I.  Davison  Decker.... 

...November  1, 

1876 

John  M.  Oliver . 

. May  18, 

1897 

Robert  M.  Davis . 

. Mav  22, 

1877 

John  A.  Rodgers . 

. June  7, 

1898 

Thomas  M.  Thomp 

son.. ...Wav  15, 

1878 

Wilbur  M.  Campbell 

. June  7, 

1898 

William  J.  McKee... 

. June  26, 

1878 

Augustus  C.  Espach.. 

. April  19, 

1899 

August  Reibert . 

. August  9, 

1881 

Elmer  C.  Wortman... 

...October  30, 

1899 

John  W.  Fulton . 

September  13, 

1881 

James  E.  Miller . 

. I une  5, 

1900 

Rudolph  C.  h  ates... 

. ..June  26, 

1883 

James  H.  Lawther . 

. May  16, 

1901 

William  I.  Hazlett.. 

. Sept.  18, 

1883 

John  H.  Lawrence.... 

. July  1. 

1901 

1.  Walker  Miller . 

. October  28, 

1884 

Hugh  Leith . 

. . Mav  27, 

1902 

John  A.  Eakin . 

..September  6, 

1887 

lames  A.  Pittenger.... 

. April  21. 

1903 

Isaac  Conrad  Ketler . April  25, 

1888 

W  Lamont  McMillan . (une  13, 

1904 

Jesse  L  Cotton . 

...September  3, 

1889 

Harry  E.  Kaufman... 

. June  14, 

1904 

Francis  A.  Kerns..... 

. October  8, 

1889 

George  P.  Stewart....! 

December  20. 

1904 

Lewis  E.  Keith . 

. October  2D, 

1889 

Detmer  T.  Kuhn . 

. lune  6, 

1905 

Frank  W.  Havs . 

. April  23, 

1890 

Earl  C.  Cleeland. . 

. June  6, 

1905 

John  A.  Courtnev.... 

. . April  23, 

1890 

John  B.  Kelso,  Ph.D 

. Nov.  26, 

1906 

Willis  S.  McNees.... 

September  23, 

1890 

Thos.  Hill  Montgomery.. April  14, 

1908 

W.  Kirk  Cozad . 

. April  26, 

1893 

Plummer  R.  Harvey. 

. June  10, 

1908 

Balint  D.  Moricz . 

. ....June  10,  1908 

Frank  Eakin . 

.April  13, 

1913 

John  W.  Witherspoon,  Jr.. .June  8,  1909 

Edwin  Carl  Howe . . 

...April  14, 

1914 

I  lerbert  W.  Stewart.. 

. June  14,  1910 

Thomas  H.  Gilmore . 

...May  30, 

1913 

Angus  J.  Maclnnis... 

. June  14,  1910 

William  Grev  Alter . 

. lune  8, 

1915 

William  E.  Bvers . 

December  23,  1910 

George  H.  Cheeseman.... 

...dune  23, 

1916 

Charles  C.  Cribbs . 

. April  11,  1911 

Nathan  1  eRoy  Ramsey. 

...April  10, 

1917 

Henry  B.  Thompson 

. June  11,  1912 

Hodge  Mcllvaine  Eagleson  July  8, 

1919 

Paul  A.  Eakin . 

. April  13,  1913 

Ludwig  C.  Schaumburg. 

...April  13, 

1920 

LICENT 

IATES 

I.  ALLEGHENY 

PRESBYTERY 

April  3,  1821 -July  9,  1870 

John  Glenn . 

. April  7,  1830 

Alexander  B.  Maxwell.... 

...April  18, 

1852 

Robert  Orr. . 

...October  13,  1836 

j.  Fulton  Bovd . 

...April  12, 

1853 

Robert  B.  Walker . 

. June  27,  1838 

David  Hall . 

...|une  20, 

1854 

Cyrus  C.  Riggs . 

. April  4.  1839 

George  W.  Mechlin . 

. April  9, 

1856 

Thomas  W.  Kerr . 

..November  A  1839 

Alexander  S.  Thorn . 

.....April  9, 

1856 

Newton  Bracken . 

. ....June  24,  1840 

Janies  S.  Bovd . 

...April  14, 

1856 

John  W.  Murray . 

. October  7,  1841) 

Samuel  Williams . 

dune  23, 

1856 

lames  Montgomery.. 

. April  6,  1841 

!<>na than  R.  Coulter . 

dune  23, 

1856 

James  Coulter . 

. April  6,  1842 

S.  P.  Kinkaid . 

...April  12, 

1859 

Lewis  Conrad . 

. April  3,  1843 

Samuel  A.  Hughes. . 

..April  12, 

1860 

john  Cornyri.. . 

. April  3,  1843 

Loval  Y.  Graham . 

..April  12, 

1860 

Thomas  Sharp  Leason . June  16,  1846 

Calvin  W.  Mateer . 

..April  12, 

1860 

bowman  B.  Hawes... 

. June  1(),  1846 

Matthew  L  Anderson . 

. April  9, 

1862 

lames  Allison . 

. October  6,  1847 

losiah  McPherrin . 

...June  24, 

1863 

John  Brown . 

. . June  20,  1S4C) 

David  H.  Sloan . 

..April  13, 

1864 

John  Cairns . 

. June  20,  184c) 

William  O.  Campbell _ 

...April  26, 

1865 

Daxid  E  Campbell... 

. dune  21,  1849 

David  H.  Tappan . 

...April  23, 

1866 

Samuel  Anderson . 

. April  8,  1831 

John  T.  Oxtobv . 

..April  23, 

1866 

Gershon  Goble . 

. April  8,  1831 

Thomas  (.  Milford . 

..April  24, 

1867 

Robert  E.  Williams.. 

. . June  23,  1831 

LICENTIATES 
II.  BUTLER  PRESBYTERY 


July  9, 

1870-April  13,  1920 

1.  Harvey  Shields . lune 

27, 

1871 

Frank  W.  Hays . 

. April 

24, 

1889 

A.  Fulton  Bowl . April 

22 

1873 

lohn  A.  Courtnev . 

. April 

24, 

1 889 

Perry  S.  Allen . April 

26, 

1876 

Cvrus  G.  Allen . 

..Octobe: 

r  9, 

1889 

Robert  M.  Davis . April 

26, 

1876 

William  G.  Reagle . 

. April 

23, 

1890 

Alonzo  Watts  Lawrence..April 

25 

1877 

John  G.  Black . 

. April 

23, 

1890 

Joseph  Redic  Cheeseman.. April 

25, 

1877 

Robert  L.  Williams . 

. April 

29, 

1891 

Walter  L.  Breckenridge.... April 

29, 

1885 

William  E.  Allen . 

. April 

29, 

1891 

Fulton  Box'd  Williams . April 

29, 

1885 

H.  Bradford  Hummel.. 

. Dec. 

28, 

1891 

Clarence  Mateer  Junkin.. April 

28, 

1886 

W.  Kirk  Cozad . 

. Dec. 

28, 

1891 

lohn  A.  Eakin . April 

28, 

1886 

W.  I  incoln  McClure.... 

. Dec. 

28, 

1891 

Robert  C.  YanEman . April 

27, 

1887 

Samuel  M.  Goehring.... 

. Dec. 

28, 

1891 

Isaac  C.  Ketler . April 

27, 

1887 

I  homas  W.  Pearson... 

. Dec. 

28, 

1891 

Willis  S.  McNees . April 

25, 

1888 

T.  Park  McKee . 

. Dec. 

28, 

1891 

Frank  E.  Simcox . 

...Dec. 

28, 

1891 

Henrv  M.  Campbell . 

.April 

21, 

1903 

Howard  Campbell . 

..April 

27, 

1893 

Harrv  E.  Kaufman . 

..June 

14, 

1904 

Melzar  D.  McClelland... 

...April 

25, 

1894 

Flurry  Andrew  Rhodes... 

.April 

19, 

1905 

Charles  P.  Marshall . 

...April 

25, 

1894 

lohn  1).  McBride . 

.April 

19, 

1905 

R.  Curtis  Stewart . 

..April 

25, 

1894 

Walter  P.  McConkev . 

..April 

19, 

1905 

lonathan  C.  Kellv . 

..April 

17, 

1895 

Detmer  T.  Kuhn . 

1  une 

6, 

1905 

L'lvsses  S.  Bartz . 

...April 

17, 

1895 

Earl  C.  Cleeland . . . 

....  1  une 

6, 

1905 

\V.  A.  Brown . 

..April 

17, 

1895 

L'riah  David  Reiter . 

.April 

16, 

1907 

David  A.  Green . 

..April 

17. 

1895 

Frank  F.  Graham . 

.April 

16, 

1907 

George  J.  Timblin . 

..April 

21, 

1896 

Balint  D.  Moricz . 

..  June 

10, 

1908 

Winfield  S.  Kreger . 

..April 

21, 

1896 

William  Harvey  Orr . 

....Sept 

8, 

1908 

lohn  A.  Rodgers . 

..April 

21, 

1896 

Ernest  B.  Lawrence . 

....  I  une  8, 

1909 

Zera  M  Gibson . September 

15, 

1896 

1  lerbert  W.  Stewart . 

.Sept. 

14, 

1910 

Frank  A.  Cozad . 

...April 

21, 

1897 

James  M.  Thompson . 

..Sept. 

14, 

1910 

W  ilbur  M.  Campbell . 

..April 

21. 

1897 

Henrv  B.  Thompson . 

.April 

11, 

1911 

Herbert  0.  McDonald... 

..April 

20, 

1898 

Paul  A.  Eakin . 

...April 

9, 

1912 

Gill  I.  Wilson.. . 

.April 

20, 

1898 

Frank  Eakin . . 

...April 

9, 

1912 

lames  D.  llumphrev . 

..April 

20. 

1898 

Edwin  Carl  Howe . 

..April 

15, 

1913 

Robert  M.  Otfutt..... . 

..April 

20, 

1898 

Mark  Brown  Maharg . 

.April 

15, 

1913 

Clarence  0.  Anderson.... 

.April 

20, 

1898 

John  Allison  King.. . 

.April 

13, 

1915 

Elmer  C.  Wortman . 

. 1  une  7, 

1898 

lohn  Greer  Bingham . 

.April 

13, 

1915 

John  H.  Lawrence... .September 

18. 

1900 

John  Alfred  Doerr . 

.April 

13, 

1915 

Albert  H.  Goettman . 

...April 

16, 

1901 

Thomas  H.  Gilmore . 

..May 

29, 

1915 

David  P.  W  illiams . 

..April 

16, 

1901 

David  Ryan  Thompson. 

..Sept. 

27, 

1915 

Thomas  E.  Thompson.. 

..April 

16, 

1902 

Nathan  LeRoy  Ramsey. 

.April 

11, 

1916 

William  E.  Marshall . 

..April 

16, 

1902 

Archie  R.  Bartholomew.. 

..April 

11, 

1916 

William  F.  Fleming . 

...April 

16, 

1902 

D.  Lester  Say... . 

April 

11, 

1916 

Morton  M.  Rodgers . 

..April 

16, 

1902 

Edward  George  Seel . 

.April 

10, 

1917 

lohn  Raven  Welch . 

...June 

10, 

1902 

Harrv  A.  Gearheart . 

.April 

10, 

1917 

Edwin  Walter  Bvers . 

..April 

21, 

1903 

Ludwig  C.  Schaumberg- 

....Sept. 

9, 

1919 

George  P.  Stewart . 

..April 

21, 

1903 

Walter  I  .  Moser . . . 

..April 

13, 

1920 

New  Blood 

Throughout  the  Presbytery  has  been  almost  wholly  rural,  conser¬ 
vative  and  orthodox.  It  has  not  been  exclusive  but  has  always  held  an 
open  door  and  a  glad  hand  unto  the  candidate  or  minister  of  other 
Christian  bodies  who  came  voluntarily  seeking  its  membership  or  work 
within  its  bounds.  The  roll  contains  three  hundred  and  sixty-four 
names  and  is  a  composite  worthy  of  particular  study.  Many  came 
from  other  Presbyteries,  east,  west  and  north,  not  many  from  the  south, 
and  contributed  their  cheer  and  labor  upon  the  stubborn  glebe  of  human 
lives  edifying  their  parishioners  in  piety,  grace  and  righteousness.  In 
sharp,  yet  rare  contrast  an  occasional  militant  spirit  brushed  the  cat 
the  wrong  way,  creating  such  antagonism  and  opposition  that  required 
the  combined  wisdom,  ingenuity  and  piety  of  the  Presbytery  to  bring 
order  out  of  chaos.  In  addition  to  the  Presbyterian  ministers,  licenti¬ 
ates  and  candidates  regularly  transferred,  the  following  ministers  have 
been  received  and  classified: 


73 


Name  Ordaining  Body  How  Received 

Nelson  K.  Crowe . Reformed  Presbyterian  Ch . Steubenville  Pres. 

William  D.  Patton . Reformed  Presbyterian  Ch . Philadelphia  R.  P. 

William  M.  Hayes . Cumberland  Presbyterian  Ch . Union  C.  P.  Pres. 

Ulysses  L.  Montgomery.. Cumberland  Presbyterian  Ch . Redstone  Pres. 

George  C.  Miller . . Cumberland  Presbyterian  Ch . Union  C.  P.  &  Pres. 

Elbert  Hefner  . Cumberland  Presbyterian  Ch . Union  C.  P.  &  Pres. 

James  Briceland  . United  Presbyterian  Ch . Butler  U.  P.  Pres. 

William  C.  Work . United  Presbyterian  Ch . Conemaugh  U.  P.  Pres. 

William  T.  Dickson . New  School  Presbyterian  Ch . Union  of  N.  S.  &  O.  S. 

Balint  D.  Moricz . Hungarian  Reformed  Pres.  Ch.... 

Henry  E.  Snyder . Reformed  Church  . 

A.  Thompson  Wolff . Wesleyan  Methodist  Ch . Allegheny  Conference 

Erancis  A.  Gaupp . Methodist  Episcopal  Ch . Erie  Conference 

Benjamin  H.  Fish . Baptist  Church  . 

Carey  Steward  . Baptist  Church . Union  of  C.  P.  &  Pres. 

John  H.  Moore . Baptist  Church  . Erie  Presbytery 

I.  Sturger  Shultz . United  Evangelical  Church . Central  Penna.  Conf. 


Comparative  Table 


1821-1870 

1871-1920 

1921 

4'otal 

Examination  . 

6,762 

13,192 

602 

22,556 

Certificate  . 

3,364 

9,902 

398 

13,633 

Suspended  (1902)  . 

3,217 

318 

3,535 

Restored  (1907)  . 

334 

32 

356 

Confession  . 

1471 

3,663 

128 

5,264 

Infants  . 

10,316 

8,640 

195 

19,131 

Home  Missions  (1839) . 

8  9,970.00 

$  188,233.00 

$19,389.00 

$  217,592.00 

Foreign  Missions  (1839) . 

19,974.00 

214,193.00 

26,67 1 .00 

260,840.00 

Education  . 

14,013.00 

23,069.00 

6,332.00 

43,416.00 

Publication  &  S.S.  Work  (1839) 

2,922.00 

34,313.00 

2,345.00 

39,780.00 

Church  Erection  (1833) . 

2,941.00 

18,577.00 

3,760.00 

25,278.00 

Relief  Fund  (1861) . 

1,370.00 

24,915.00 

3,936.00 

30,421.00 

Freedmen  (1869)  . 

808.00 

72,348.00 

5,364.00 

78,520.00 

Colleges  ( 1884)  . 

30,476.00 

30,476.00 

Temperance  (1907)  . 

13,722.00 

1,291.00 

15,013.00 

General  Assembly  Fund . 

25,063.71 

1,304.80 

Congregational  (1831)  . 

207,703.00 

1,838,300.00 

97,428.00 

2,143,431.00 

Miscellaneous  . 

13,903.00 

152,432.00 

19,441.00 

185,777.00 

Western  Theological  Seminary 

(1823-1831). 

. 82,950.00 

The  total  of  benevolences  or  funds  for  others  is  $927,113.00  and 
$2,143,431.00  were  used  on  the  field.  Stupendous  as  these  figures  are, 
they  represent  only  part  of  the  work  actually  done,  the  least  permanent 
and  enduring.  What  comforts  these  millions  would  have  brought  to 
the  givers  or  what  improvements  and  taxes  they  would  have  paid  says 
some  Judas!  Souls  were  wakened  and  told  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come  as  truly  as  were  Lot’s  family.  Some  were  born,  lived  and  died  in 
the  congregation  in  which  they  found  Christ.  The  years  of  service. 


faith  and  love  in  the  sanctuary  and  in  daily  living  have  proved  the 
transforming  power  of  the  principles  of  Jesus  when  earnestly  received 
and  honestly  practiced.  Such  are  called  to  be  saints  and  it  is  a  great 
privilege  to  watch  them  come  to  maturity  as  "shocks  of  corn  fully  ripe.” 
Happy  is  the  community  that  takes  time  and  pains  to  grow  God’s  elect. 
In  these  days  of  rush  and  roar  there  is  little  time  for  study  and  read¬ 
ing  religious  works  and  no  time  for  meditation,  and  what  is  more 
ominous,  neither  a  desire  nor  a  disposition  to  do  so.  Shall  we  be  able 
to  grow  men  of  the  caliber  of  W  ashington,  Garfield,  Roosevelt,  Dodge, 
Thaw  and  other  distinguished  laymen  or  the  unnamed  brilliant  women 
who  have  devoted  themselves  wholly  to  Christ  and  1 1  is  service  in  the 
world.  It  is  not  business  or  the  poor  pay  that  produces  a  dearth  of 
students  for  the  ministry,  but  the  decay  of  genuine  piety  in  the  home 
and  love  for  the  Kingdom  which  Jesus  came  to  found.  Immortal  souls 
thus  won  and  trained  for  God  is  the  noblest  achievement  of  the  centurv. 


Closing  Paragraphs 

What  has  been  wrought  throughout  this  first  century?  Much  in 
every  direction.  Material  improvement  has  been  rapid  and  continuous. 
Such  changes  are  not  even  mentioned  in  the  records  of  Presbytery  but 
they  must  always  be  assumed  as  the  real  background  of  all  true  intellec¬ 
tual,  moral  and  spiritual  progress  within  the  century.  Some  illustra¬ 
tions  of  the  breadth  and  extent  of  this  material  progress  will  be  sugges¬ 
tive.  From  log  cabins  with  no  comforts  and  often  lacking  necessities, 
to  beautifully  arranged  homes  with  every  convenience ;  from  the  huge 
fire  place  with  its  crane,  Dutch  oven  and  heavy  iron  kettles  to  gas  ranges 
with  all  modern  attachments,  electric  washers,  irons  and  mangles;  from 
the  tallow  dip  and  Dutch  lamp  that  burned  lard  to  kerosene  oil  to  gas 
and  electric  lights;  from  the  flint  and  steel  to  the  non-poisonous  match; 
from  the  products  of  the  spinning  wheel  and  hand  loom  and  the  walnut, 
indigo  and  copper  as  dye  stuffs  to  the  finest  and  smoothest  fabrics  of 
any  and  every  hue;  from  the  goose  quill  to  the  fountain  pen.  typewriter 
and  linotypes,  from  wooden  and  pewter  dishes  to  the  finest  Sevres  pat¬ 
terns  in  China,  or  cut  glass;  from  the  sickle  and  flail  to  the  binder  and 
thresher  driven  by  the  traction  engine;  from  the  plough  whose  mould 
board  was  shod  with  a  strip  of  iron  to  the  tractor  that  ploughs,  drags 
and  drills  at  the  same  time;  from  the  ox  and  the  horse  to  the  steam 
and  electric  railways,  automobiles  and  auto  trucks;  from  mails  to  free 
delivery  and  parcel  post;  from  tuning  forks  to  victrola,  piano  players 
and  pipe  organs;  from  needles  to  motor  driven  sewing  machines  of  the 
latest  pattern;  from  nails  manufactured  by  hand  to  the  fullest  hard¬ 
ware  equipment;  from  private  subscription  school  to  a  public  school 


system  including  kindergarten,  graded,  high,  normal  and  university 
divisions,  seems  like  a  very  far  cry,  almost  miraculous.  Vet  these  ad¬ 
vances  selected  at  random,  are  only  the  more  familiar  and  outstanding 
ones  which  have  been  working  together  for  the  social  uplift  of  this  par¬ 
ticular  region.  These  achievements  were  not  gained  at  a  single  bound, 
but  slowly,  round  by  round,  toiled  upward  to  the  light.  Still  such  pre¬ 
eminent  attainments  have  not  satisfied  human  craving  and  capacity, 
only  intensified  and  deepened  it.  To  live  in  such  an  era  of  activity  and 
to  share  in  the  progress  and  its  sequences  has  been  a  very  distinguished 
honor,  but  have  not  many  Christians  grown  ungrateful  and  altogether 
selfish  instead  of  rejoicing  before  God  and  rendering  thanks  for  such 
unusual  privileges  and  opportunities. 

In  spiritual  activities  the  advance  has  been  no  less  remarkable  than 
the  material  progress  though  not  so  varied  or  rapid.  In  1820  religion 
was  more  than  doctrinal  beliefs  and  convictions,  more  than  credal  state¬ 
ments  sincerely  assumed,  it  was  a  life  and  the  most  important  business  of 
life.  Then  the  Church  was  the  social  and  community  center,  the  meet¬ 
ing  place  of  kinsfolk  and  the  distributing  point  for  social,  religious  and 
political  happenings.  The  church  was  foremost  in  the  thoughts  of  the 
household  and  dominated  the  ideals  and  life  of  the  community.  It 
was  reserved  exclusively  as  the  place  of  public  worship  and  was  in  effect 
a  close  religious  corporation.  Its  services  were  simple  in  order,  very 
deliberate  and  usually  austere.  The  churches  in  our  bounds  have  been 
especially  conservative,  clinging  to  the  old  ways,  the  ways  of  their 
fathers.  Every  improvement  in  method  or  new  forms  of  worship  have 
been  resisted  but  in  due  time  the  spirit  of  progress  has  prevailed. 
Customs  that  are  ingrained  in  human  nature  or  associated  with  human 
institutions  acquire  a  sacredness  that  yields  slowly  to  all  the  demands 
made  by  progress.  Some  of  the  customs  were  gradually  superceded  by 
other  methods,  corresponding  to  the  advances  made  in  social  and  finan¬ 
cial  affairs.  Marriage  banns  were  the  first  to  disappear.  About  the 
middle  of  the  last  century  the  tokens  ceased  to  be  used  and  a  little  later 
the  tables  and  their  fencing  were  discontinued.  I  his  innovation  seem¬ 
ed  sacrilegious  to  many  sensitive  consciences  and  they  deplored  this  loss 
deeply  for  they  felt  that  worldly  fashions  were  invading  the  most 
solemn  services  of  the  sanctuary.  The  changes  from  the  fermented  wine 
in  the  cup  to  the  pure  juice  of  the  grape  was  due  primarily  to  the  zeal 
and  efforts  of  Rev.  John  Coulter.  The  early  pew  system  was  very  slow 
to  give  way  and  was  not  abolished  in  the  first  Church  of  Butler  until 
1907.  The  introduction  of  the  organ  and  other  musical  instruments 
have  been  attended  with  agitation  and  often  much  opposition.  1  he  use 
of  the  individual  cup,  so  sanitary  as  to  seem  a  necessity,  has  been  gradu¬ 
ally  accepted  by  the  present  active  ministry. 


76 


History  of  the  Churches 

PLAIN  GROVE 

The  Presbvtery  of  Redstone  was  erected  in  1781  and  was  the  first 
Presbytery  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains.  On  April  19,  1793,  this 
Presbytery  agreed  to  a  request  of  the  Synod  of  \  irginia  “to  detach  its 
ministers  and  churches  west  of  the  Monongahela  River  and  to  create 
“a  separate  Presbytery  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  Presbytery  ol 
Ohio.”  This  request  was  granted  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year. 

In  the  same  year  Mr.  William  Elliott  made  the  first  permanent 
settlement  about  two  miles  from  the  present  church  of  Plain  Grove. 
Others  settled  near  him  and  the  group  became  known  as  Elliott’s  Set¬ 


tlement.  Events  so  far  apart  and  so  dissimilar  as  a  meeting  of  Pres¬ 
bytery  and  the  building  of  a  cabin  by  a  pioneer  settler  may,  in  the 
providence  of  God  be  linked  together.  The  young  Presbytery  of  Ohio 
promptly  claimed  jurisdiction  over  that  part  of  the  mother  Presbytery 
lying  west  of  a  line  drawn  from  Pittsburgh  to  the  old  French  Fort, 
Presque  Isle,  on  Lake  Erie.  This  line  corresponded  to  the  Indian  Trail 
from  Shannopin’s  town  located  in  what  later  became  the  old  Fourth 
Ward  of  Pittsburgh,  to  the  present  site  of  Erie. 

T  he  first  church  preempting  this  claim  north  of  Pittsburgh  was 
that  of  Plain  Grove.  When  the  first  services  were  conducted  in  that 
region  and  by  whom  or  the  date  of  the  organization  of  this  congrega¬ 
tion  is  now  unknown.  Abraham  built  an  altar  at  each  permanent  en¬ 
campment  in  the  land  God  showed  him.  Not  less  essential  to  these 
God  fearing  Scotch  and  Scotch-Irish  families  was  a  central  place  for 
worship.  A  few  of  these  pioneer  settlers  may  be  properly  recorded  for 


their  descendants  still  dwell  in  the  surrounding  region,  such  as  the 
Elliots,  Armstrongs,  Crosses,  McNeeses,  McConnells,  Jacks,  Kellys, 
Clarks,  Humphreys,  Douglasses,  Martins,  Moores  and  many  others. 
Such  sturdy  pioneers  regarded  the  church  as  necessary  and  encouraged 
no  doubt  by  the  visits  of  occasional  ministers  they  selected  a  central 
location,  erected  a  tent  or  platform  for  the  minister’s  use  and  organized 
the  congregation.  For  many  years  the  early  records  of  the  original 
Presbyteries  do  not  mention  the  organization  of  churches.  Congre¬ 
gations  were  recognized  and  enrolled  by  Presbytery  as  they  requested 
supplies  or  presented  a  call.  Such  seems  to  have  been  the  course  pur¬ 
sued  at  Plain  Grove. 

The  first  definite  reference  to  religious  services  at  Elliott’s  Settle¬ 
ment  is  in  the  Diary  of  Rev.  Elisha  Macurdy.  Joseph  Stockton  and 
Elisha  Macurdy  were  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  June  16, 
1799,  and  following  the  custom  of  that  day  these  zealous  young  men 
set  out  on  a  missionary  tour  to  Lake  Erie.  Among  the  places  they 
stopped  and  preached  Elliott’s  Settlement  is  named.  Upon  their  re¬ 
turn  trip  in  September  they  organized  the  churches  of  Upper  Sandy 
and  Fairfield  in  Mercer  County.  It  is  probable  that  they  revisited 
Elliott’s  Settlement  and  encouraged  the  people  to  organize  a  congrega¬ 
tion.  That  this  counsel  was  promptly  followed  is  clear,  for  on  April 
16,  1800,  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  appointed  Rev.  James  Snodgrass  to 
preach  at  “Plain  Grove,  ’  which  was  the  name  adopted  at  the  organ¬ 
ization  and  descriptive  of  the  stretch  of  level  land,  the  path  of  an 
ancient  iceberg.  A  tradition  says  that  the  original  members  were  about 
fifteen  and  that  William  McNees  and  Joseph  Campbell  were  elected  to 
the  office  of  Ruling  Elder. 

The  enterprise  of  the  congregation  is  further  shown  in  the  erection 
of  a  house  of  worship  in  1799.  This  building  of  round  logs  is  thought 
to  have  been  twenty  by  twenty-four  feet  with  windows  of  greased  paper 
and  a  large  fireplace  in  one  end.  This  building  was  reared  perhaps  in  a 
day  by  skillful  and  willing  hands.  It  had  no  debts  except  the  gratitude 
of  the  builders.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  Glory  of  God  by  the  worship 
conducted  within  its  walls  or  about  its  door. 

Mr.  William  Wood,  who  had  pursued  his  theological  studies  under 
Rev.  John  McMillan  and  was  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio 
became  the  first  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Plain  Grove  and 
Center.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  at  Plain  Grove  November  3, 
1802,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  which  had  been  erected  October  2, 
1801,  by  the  Synod  of  Yir  ginia  “at  the  unanimous  request  of  the  mem¬ 
bers  present  from  the  Presbyteries  of  Redstone  and  Ohio.’’  The  terri¬ 
tory  of  the  new  Presbytery  included  “all  the  congregations  north  and 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  and  Allegheny  Rivers  unto  the  place  where  the 
Ohio  River  crosses  the  western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania.”  Rev. 


Robert  Lee  preached  the  sermon  on  this  occason  on  Mark  16:15,  16 
and  Rev.  John  McMillan  being  present  presided  by  invitation  and  de¬ 
livered  the  charge  to  Mr.  Wood  as  Paul  did  to  Timothy  and  to  the 
congregation. 

The  combined  membership  of  the  two  congregations  in  1804  was 
thirty-two.  One  hundred  twenty  families  were  reported  the  same  year 
in  the  scattered  settlements  in  an  area  not  less  than  twenty  miles 
square.  With  due  allowance  for  families  of  Reformed  Presbyterian 
and  Associate  Presbyterian  persuasion  it  required  missionary  zeal  and 
courage  to  minister  to  this  scattered  flock.  For  almost  six  years  Rev. 
Wood  labored  in  this  large  field  and  when  he  was  released  from  Center 
August  44,  1808,  the  congregation  consented  most  reluctantly.  Eight 
years  longer  Rev.  Wood  served  Plain  Grove  Church.  Watts’  Psalms 
and  Hymns  were  adopted  in  1805  and  this  action  caused  the  with¬ 
drawal  of  several  families  devoted  to  the  exclusive  use  of  Psalms  in  the 
public  worship  and  led  to  the  organization  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church  in  1808,  now  known  as  Wolf  Creek  United  Presbyterian 
Church  which  became  the  mother  of  four  congregations. 

Plain  Grove  was  again  united  with  Center  from  the  installation 
of  Rev.  John  Munson  until  February  7,  1838.  when  he  was  released 
from  Plain  Grove  and  gave  all  his  time  to  Center.  Both  congregations 
prospered  under  the  searching  preaching  of  “the  marrow  of  divinity” 
by  Rev.  Munson  until  the  joint  membership  numbered  two  hundred 
ninety-four  when  Rev.  Munson  withdrew  to  Center  in  1838. 

The  severe  form  of  Calvinism  preached  by  Rev.  Munson  and  his 
strong  opposition  to  emotionalism  and  many  of  the  measures  employed 
in  revival  meetings  alienated  a  number  of  families  who  attended  at 
Plain  Grove  and  who  later  affiliated  themselves  with  the  early  efforts 
of  the  Methodists  and  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  Religious  and 
doctrinal  discussions  followed  until  the  controversy  culminated  in  the 
celebrated  debate  at  Plain  Grove  May  8,  1834,  between  Rev.  Munson 
and  Rev.  Brunson,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Meadville  District.  About 
two  thousand  people  assembled  to  hear  the  three  hour  addresses  of  each 
disputant.  The  subject  discussed  was  “Is  the  doctrine  of  Predestina¬ 
tion,  Election  and  Reprobation  as  held  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  Scriptural  or  not?” 
Closest  attention  was  given  to  each  champion  and  intense  feeling  per¬ 
vaded  the  crowd.  The  controversy  ended  in  a  drawn  battle.  The  fol¬ 
lowers  of  each  disputant  were  confirmed  in  their  own  views  and  the 
practical  results  were  of  doubtful  value,  but  the  arguments  of  those 
virile  debaters  were  rehearsed  in  many  homes  for  years. 

\\  hen  Robert  B.  \\  alker  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  April  3, 
1839,  Plain  Grove  had  two  hundred  twelve  members.  It  was  a  pacific 
ministry  of  thirty-three  years  in  spite  of  the  manv  instances  of  “com- 


79 


mon  fame”  which  the  session  was  then  required  to  investigate.  The 
people  were  richly  fed  and  the  brick  church  seating  six  hundred  was  for 
many  years  overcrowded  in  summer,  for  worshipers  gathered  from  be¬ 
low  Jacksville  to  beyond  North  Liberty  and  from  Harlansburg  to  be¬ 
yond  Centerville  (Slippery  Rock).  Five  hundred  forty  members  were 
added  in  this  pastorate.  Three  hundred  seventy-seven  came  by  con¬ 
fession  and  one  hundred  sixty-six  by  certificate.  It  was  during  the 
winter  of  1867-68  that  the  seed  so  faithfully  sown  and  tended  bore 
fruit.  Eighty-four  were  hopefully  converted  and  six  others  came  by 
certificate  into  the  church  fellowship,  causing  great  rejoicing. 

A  number  of  events,  some  of  them  of  special  interest  to  the  Plain 
Grove  congregation,  while  others  were  shared  with  other  churches,  oc¬ 
curring  in  this  long  pastorate  are  worthy  of  record.  Early  in  1840 
Plain  Grove  was  called  upon  to  y  ield  some  of  her  large  territory  and 
about  twelve  members  in  the  formation  of  Rich  Mill  Church  on  her 
northwest  border.  When  the  Centerville  Church  was  organized  April 
24,  1854,  on  her  eastern  border,  two  Elders,  Nathaniel  Cooper  and 
William  B.  Cooper,  with  twenty-three  other  members  were  dismissed  to 
form  that  organization.  Two  years  later,  April  26,  1856,  Leesburg 
was  constituted  to  the  northeast  of  Rich  Hill  and  for  the  third  time 
Plain  Grove  yielded  territory  and  twelve  members.  Twice  more  has 
this  church  sacrificed  both  territory  and  membership,  viz.,  Harlansburg 
took  twelve  members  on  February  18,  1875,  and  North  Libert)'  twenty- 
six,  June  21,  1880.  The  birth  of  each  of  these  daughters  removed  not 
only  members  but  their  families  besides  greatly  limiting  her  original 
bounds,  but  while  each  loss  was  keenly  felt  the  mother’s  benediction 
rested  upon  each  daughter. 

On  the  Monday  of  the  February  Communion  in  1847,  the  Pastor 
requested  the  women  to  remain  for  a  short  time  after  the  service  and 
Rev.  Walker  and  Rev.  Henry  Webber,  who  was  assisting,  made  brief 
but  earnest  personal  addresses  urging  the  women  to  voluntarily  form  a 
Woman’s  Missionary  Society  with  the  object  of  making  personal  con¬ 
tributions  to  the  cause  of  missions.  This  was  something  quite  ad¬ 
vanced  while  as  yet  woman’s  voice  had  not  been  heard  in  public  prayer, 
yet  in  fear  and  trembling  a  few  women  enrolled  and  placed  sums 
opposite  their  names.  On  June  30  of  that  year  an  organization  was 
completed  that  has  kept  the  cause  of  missions  to  the  front  in  the 
church’s  life  and  work.  This  society  is  believed  to  be  the  oldest  in 
Butler  Presbytery  and  is  preparing  to  celebrate  the  Seventy-fifth  Anni- 
varsary  June  18  and  19  with  the  Presbyterial  Society  as  guests. 

I  he  attitude  of  political  parties  to  slavery  was  sharply  discussed 
and  the  evasive  action  of  the  Old  School  Assembly  in  1845  alienated 
Elder  James  Glenn  from  the  church.  He  ceased  to  act  as  an  Elder  and 
to  attend  the  services  and  in  1850  renounced  all  connection  with  the 


80 


Presbvterian  Church  and  became  a  member  of  the  Free  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Harrisville. 

About  1850  the  use  of  “Tokens;  and  the  debarring  from  the  Sacra¬ 
ment  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  all  but  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
ceased.  The  second  sermon  was  abandoned  near  the  close  of  the  Civil 
War  and  the  Session  agreed  to  discontinue  the  use  of  “tables  in  the 
administration  of  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper”  on  June  29, 
1866.  The  “pew  rent”  or  “tax"  was  abolished  January  10,  1872. 

Other  things  Plain  Grove  shared  with  other  congregations  in  the 
Presbyterv.  The  Dry  Summer  of  1854  was  long  remembered.  For 
weeks  the  wind  blew  from  the  northwest,  driving  dust  clouds  from  the 
drv  fields;  all  vegetation  was  stunted  and  shriveled;  the  sky  was  murky 
and  lowering  until  the  people  fully  realized  that  they  were  as  depend¬ 
ant  on  God’s  providence  for  daily  food  as  Israel  for  manna.  Finally 
the  heavens  opened  and  copious  showers  fell  and  the  earth  brought 
forth  her  belated  increase. 

In  1857  the  great  financial  panic  swept  over  Europe  and  the 
Lnited  States.  Many  strong  business  houses,  banks  and  individuals 
failed,  bringing  great  depression,  hardship  and  sorrow  in  its  wake. 
On  Sabbath  morning,  June  5,  1859,  came  “the  Great  Frost.”  There 
was  the  brightest  prospect  of  abundant  crops  but  the}'  were  smitten  by 
the  hard  frost  in  a  night.  A  gloomy  and  despondent  people  gathered 
at  Plain  Grove  for  worship  that  Sabbath.  They  seemed  to  be  facing 
starvation.  Another  severe  frost  followed  on  Friday  night.  June  the 
1  1th.  completing  the  destruction.  While  the  people  were  greatly  alarm¬ 
ed  God  was  on  Mis  throne  and  had  not  abandoned  I  lis  people.  Buck¬ 
wheat  and  potato  crops  were  unusually  good  and  none  suffered  for  the 
necessities  of  life,  but  man}'  learned  to  walk  more  humbly  before  God. 

But  the  greatest  of  these  calamities  remains  to  be  recorded.  God 
was  holding  a  controversy  with  our  nation.  Human  servitude  must 
cease  and  the  nation  was  plunged  into  the  greatest  fratricidal  war  of  his¬ 
tory.  The  quiet  of  the  church  life  ceased  for  the  cry  of  war  had  sound¬ 
ed  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  sons  of  church  families  enlisted  and  were 
in  the  midst  of  the  struggle  to  preserve  a  nation  of  free  men  on  earth. 
More  than  twenty  of  the  soldiers  who  were  church  members  never  re¬ 
turned.  Two  died  in  southern  prisons,  others  were  slain  in  battle  or 
were  simply  marked  “missing”  after  a  battle  and  never  heard  of  after¬ 
wards.  besides  many  seriously  wounded.  Such  sacrifices  of  patriotic 
citizens  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  a  united  and  happy  nation. 

The  history  of  the  past  half  century  is  fresh  in  the  minds  of  man}'. 
Able  and  consecrated  shepherds  have  fed  and  cared  for  the  flock.  The 
old  loyalty  to  the  Scriptures  and  fidelity  to  the  church  home  have  been 
perpetuated  in  the  new  age.  The  membership  reached  its  maximum  of 
two  hundred  eight}'  under  Rev.  Robert  McCaslin  in  1877,  when  fifty- 


five  members  were  received  on  examination,  but  the  communicants  have 
ranged  from  two  hundred  twenty-five  to  two  hundred  fifty  for  many 
years.  The  missionary  interest  and  spirit  have  shown  a  marked  in¬ 
crease.  A  splendid  and  commodious  house  of  worship,  dedicated  June 
3,  1896,  was  erected  by  funds  left  to  the  church  by  Mr.  Michael  Jor¬ 
dan  in  1888.  The  congregation  celebrated  its  centennial  with  appro¬ 
priate  services  in  September,  1899,  and  published  an  excellent  historical 
sketch  of  the  church.  Plain  Grove  is  one  of  the  best  equipped,  most 
active  and  vigorous  rural  congregations  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  and 
it  is  hoped  that  this  church  may  maintain  this  distinction  for  many 
years  for  the  Glory  of  God. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  William  Wood,  1802-1816;  Rev.  John  Munson,  1818-1838; 
Rev.  Robert  B.  Walker,  1839-1872;  Rev.  Robert  McCaslin,  1874-1832; 
Rev.  Alvin  M.  Reed,  1883-1893;  Rev.  S.  Arthur  Stewart,  1894-1903; 
Rev.  James  D.  Humphrey,  1904-1907;  Rev.  F.  Benton  Shoemaker, 
1907-1916;  Rev.  William  S.  Bingham,  1917-1918;  Rev.  Clarence  O. 
Anderson,  1918-. 

ELDERS 

William  McNees,  Joseph  Campbell,  Benjamin  Jack,  Hugh  Hender¬ 
son,  James  McCune,  William  Holliday,  William  Dennison,  Charles 
Gilkev,  Jacob  Emery,  Robert  Stevenson,  Sr.,  Isaac  Davison,  James 
Glenn,  John  McNees,  John  Breckenridge,  Alexander  McBride,  Stephen 
Clark,  Nicholas  Book,  Nathaniel  Cooper,  David  McCune,  Thomas 
Plummer,  William  B.  Cooper,  John  C.  McNees,  Andrew  Breckenridge, 
Robert  Stevenson,  Jr.,  Andrew  D.  Jamison,  A.  Stewart  Barber,  William 
J.  Offut,  John  Pisor,  Sr.,  Uriah  Ramsey,  Robert  N.  McCune,  John 
Pollock,  W.  A.  Hanna,  Samuel  B.  George,  Robert  A.  McKinney,  Albert 
G.  Courtney,  D.  Brainard  McCune,  Sylvester  C.  Rodgers,  John  A.  Pisor, 
Dawson  W.  Dight,  Newton  Nelson,  Nathan  A.  OfFutt,  J.  Bowman 
Pisor,  Albert  A.  Reichart,  Joseph  C.  Winder,  Clarence  F.  Gardner  and 
Charles  L.  Brenneman. 


AMITY 

The  authentic  history  of  Amity  congregation  begins  with  the  nine¬ 
teenth  century  and  was  probably  a  preaching  point  prior  to  1 800.  Its 
original  location  was  about  three  miies  east  of  the  present  site  and  was 
regarded  as  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  which  was  created 
in  1793  by  the  Synod  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Robert  Lee  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio  October  22,  1800,  and  soon  afterward  made  a  tour 
of  the  vacant  preaching  points  on  the  northern  frontier  of  that  Pres¬ 
bytery.  It  is  evident  that  his  ability  in  rightly  dividing  the  truth  was 
acceptable  because  he  received  and  accepted  the  calls  of  Amity  and 
Big  Spring. 


I  Ie  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  these 
congregations  June  26, 
1801,  about  four  months 
before  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie  was  erected  and  of 
which  lie  was  one  of  its 
original  members.  The 
parish  was  very  large. 
The  discouragements  inci- 
dent  to  frontier  settle¬ 
ments  were  many  and  the 
material  support  was  very 
meager,  yet  he  endured 
hardness  as  a  good  soldier 
of  the  cross  until  failing 
health  led  him  to  ask  Presbytery  to  release  him,  which  was  granted 
July  14.  1807.  lie  lived  several  years  within  the  bounds  of  his  former 
charge  and  frequently  supplied  the  congregations. 

Rev.  John  Boyd,  who  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
1809  “a  missionary  for  two  months  on  the  headwaters  of  Allegheny 
River  and  the  border  of  Lake  Erie,”  supplied  Amity  and  West  Unity  for 
a  year  after  this  appointment  had  been  fulfilled.  From  October  4,  1810, 
when  Rev.  Boyd  was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery,  to  December  28, 
1825,  when  Rev.  Ira  Condit  became  pastor.  Amity  is  reported  vacant. 
Rev.  Condit  is  thought  to  have  supplied  some  in  1814,  15  and  16,  but 
not  statedly.  No  record  of  supplies,  and  there  must  have  been  great  per¬ 
severance  on  behalf  of  the  saints  without  pastoral  supervision  is  made 
for  fifteen  years.  ”1  know  thy  faith  and  thy  work”  could  aptly  describe 
this  period  of  the  church’s  history.  Rev.  Samuel  I  ait,  of  Mercer,  was 
assisting  Rev.  Condit  at  a  communion  service  in  the  open  air.  When 
Rev.  Tait  began  “the  long  prayer”  the  black  clouds,  thunder  and 
lightning  indicated  a  heavy  storm,  but  he  prayed  earnestly  that  the 
storm  might  not  disturb  their  worship  of  Cod.  The  clouds  separated 
and  not  a  drop  of  rain  fell  upon  the  worshipers,  and  for  a  long  time 
after  the  boys  who  were  present  at  that  service  used  to  say  that  “Mr. 
Tait  could  split  the  clouds.” 

Rev.  Condit  was  released  April  22,  1829- 

Mr.  Robert  Glenn  was  licensed  at  Mercer,  Pa.,  February  2,  1831, 
and  at  once  began  to  preach  for  the  vacant  churches  of  Amity,  Mill 
Creek  and  Sandy  Lake.  On  September  12,  1832,  he  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  Mill  Creek  and  Amity,  giving  to  each  church  one- 
third  of  his  services.  1  his  relation  continued  until  April  3,  1850,  when 
Rev.  Glenn  was  released  from  Amity.  During  this  pastorate  of  almost 


83 


eighteen  years  Amity  was  temporarily  a  part  of  Erie  Presbytery  and 
since  that  time  it  has  been  in  Allegheny  and  Butler  Presbyteries. 
The  church  experienced  the  “falling  exercise”  in  common  with  many 
churches  in  1802  and  1803  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  Rev.  Tait  was 
preaching  at  Amity  when  this  strange  spiritual  phenomenon  suddenly 
manifested  itself.  “People  showed  no  signs  of  leaving  though  the 
night  was  cold  and  it  was  late.”  Rev.  Tait  had  to  urge  them  to  leave, 
saying,  “we  must  have  mercy  on  brute  creation,”  meaning  the  horses 
shivering  in  the  cold.  Even  then  the  people  dispersed  slowly. 

Dr-  Eaton  says,  “This  church  has  had  an  exciting  history.  Always 
in  advance  on  the  subject  of  slavery  they  hesitated  not  to  enter  their 
protest  against  the  acts  of  Presbytery  and  General  Assembly,  when  not 
sufficiently  awake  to  the  subject.”  So  strongly  did  Elder  Davidson 
feel  on  this  subject  that  he  withdrew  from  even  Amity  to  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  free  Presbyterian  Church  at  Harrisville. 

This  church  has  had  a  splendid  list  of  capable  and  devout  min¬ 
isters.  The  power  of  the  preached  word  was  clearly  manifested  in  the 
study  of  Christian  character  and  virtues  that  have  characterized  the 
families  of  this  congregation  for  years  and  is  still  vigorous  in  their 
children’s  children.  The  church  has  been  specially  blessed  and  fre¬ 
quently  by  the  presence  of  an  evangelistic  or  spiritual  quickening  and 
readiness.  Such  seasons  have  called  many  into  the  household  of  faith. 

HOUSES  OF  WORSHIP 

“The  Groves  were  Cod’s  first  temples.”  In  the  shade  of  friendly 
trees  the  congregation  sat  upon  logs  felled  by  skilled  axemen  and 
drawn  into  place  bv  oxen,  listening  to  the  message  of  an  itinerating 
minister.  Then  a  simple  tent,  a  rude  platform  a  few  feet  above  the 
ground  with  a  clapboard  attached  to  the  corner  posts  was  the  minister’s 
throne.  Spartan-like  the  people  defied  rain,  frost  or  snow  to  chill 
their  ardor  during  two  long  services.  Some  even  scorned  to  take  a 
few  cakes  in  a  pocket  or  in  a  kerchief  to  appease  hunger  between  the 
services. 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1800  of  round  logs  about 
twenty-two  feet  square,  said  to  have  been  built  by  willing  and  skillful 
hands  in  a  day.  It  had  a  clapboard  roof  and  a  puncheon  Poor.  The 
joist  for  the  ceiling  were  saplings.  Thinner  ones  laid  across  these 
joist  were  covered  by  the  abundant  moss  at  that  place,  added  to  the 
comfort  of  the  worshippers.  There  was  one  door  and  the  openings 
for  windows  were  covered  with  oiled  paper.  Doubtless  not  a  nail  was 
used  in  the  construction  of  this  building  for  the  glory  of  God. 

How  long  this  building  was  used  is  not  certain,  but  it  was  succeed¬ 
ed  by  a  larger  and  more  honorable  building  on  the  same  ground.  The 
Lord’s  dwelling  place  must  be  in  harmony  with  the  worshipper’s 


84 


prosperity.  It  was  constructed  of  hewed  logs  thirty  by  thirty-five  feet 
with  a  twelve  foot  story — a  notable  achievement  for  that  day-  1  he 
roof  was  of  lap  shingles,  the  ceiling  of  poplar  and  the  floor  of  pine 
and  oak  boards.  This  house  had  double  doors  in  the  end  with  an 
aisle  running  to  the  high  pulpit  at  the  opposite  end.  A  huge  fireplace 
eight  feet  long  in  an  outside  chimney  constructed  of  stone  for  part  ol 
its  height  and  completed  with  a  stick  chimney  carefully  daubed  by 
“cat  and  clav,”  furnished  heat  for  the  congregation  in  the  long,  cold  w  in¬ 
ters.  T  his  building  was  burned  April  20.  1840,  believed  to  have  been 
the  work  of  an  incendiary,  for  it  was  followed  by  the  burning  of 
houses,  barns,  fences  and  woods.  The  miscreant  with  this  mania  was 
never  apprehended. 

Much  discussion  arose  about  the  place  where  a  new  church  should 
be  built  and  the  opinion  of  the  congregation  was  divided.  Some  were 
read\'  to  build  on  the  old  site;  others  favored  a  site  three  miles  west 
on  the  Scrubgrass  road  and  about  a  mile  from  the  Pittsburgh  and 
Franklin  road.  Both  parties  took  subscriptions  for  their  favorite 
locations.  Those  desiring  to  remain  at  the  old  place  took  their  sub¬ 
scriptions  first  and  secured  $400,  and  the  latter  group  in  a  few  min¬ 
utes  at  the  same  meeting  pledged  $1,000.  This  frame  building  forty- 
five  by  fifty-five  feet  and  sixteen  feet  in  the  clear  was  erected  on  the 
present  church  site.  I  his  house  had  two  doors  in  the  end  with  aisles 
leading  to  a  cross  aisle  before  the  pulpit.  The  building  committee 
were  John  Davidson,  Joseph  A.  Allen,  Ezra  Gildersleeve,  John  Moyn 
and  Samuel  Livingston.  Idle  contractor  received  $1,300  for  the  work 
and  the  house  of  worship  was  considered  the  finest  in  that  region  in  1840. 

This  house,  too.  was  burned  February  25,  1894,  from  a  defective 
hue  caused  by  lightning.  The  present  house  of  worship  was  dedicated 
February  3,  1895,  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $4,000  including  labor 
donated. 

PASTORS 

Robert  Lee,  1801-1807;  Ira  Condit,  1825-1829;  Robert  Glenn, 
1832-1850;  Meade  Satterfield,  1851-1855;  J.  Fulton  Boyd,  1856-1866; 
William  D.  Patton,  1867-1880;  John  W.  Fulton,  1881-1882;  William 
M  Hays,  1886-1896;  James  M.  Kelly,  1889-1902;  Thomas  J.  Gray, 
1903-1906;  John  A.  James.  1907-1914;  Wdlliam  G.  Alter.  1915-1918; 
Melzar  D.  McClelland,  1919-1921;  Wdlliam  II.  Nicholson.  1922. 

FORMER  ELDERS 

Patrick  Davidson,  Alexander  Crane,  Joshua  Coleman,  Ithiel  Dodd, 
Eliab  Axtell,  W  illiam  Davidson,  Robert  W  hann,  Patrick  Davidson, 
John  M.  Claren,  John  Moyer,  Ezra  Gildersleeve,  Joseph  A.  Allen, 
William  A.  Davidson,  Robert  Patterson,  Samuel  Riggs,  Robert  F. 


W  illiams,  Peter  Hovis,  Robert  M.  Sterrett,  J.  Coleman  Allen,  James 
Davidson  and  John  D.  W  illiams. 

Present  Session :  David  Karns,  Clarence  G.  Coulter,  Ulysses  G. 
Sterrett,  Floyd  A.  Eakin,  James  W.  Allen. 

CENTER 

The  Presbytery  of  Ohio  was  created  by  the  Synod  of  Virginia  in 
1793  and  continued  to  exercise  religious  jurisdiction  west  of  the 
eightieth  degree  of  longitude  until  the  erection  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie  by  the  same  Synod  at  Winchester,  Ya.,  October  2,  1801.  When 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  met  at  Mill  Creek  in  Beaver  County,  less  than 
six  months  prior  to  the  creation  of  Erie  Presbytery,  “a  call  from  the 
united  congregations  of  Plain  Grove  and  Center  for  the  ministerial 


services  of  Licentiate  Robert  Lee  was  presented  to  Presbytery.”  At 
the  same  meeting  a  similar  call  for  Mr.  Lee’s  services  was  laid  in  from 
Amity  and  Big  Spring  congregations.  Both  calls  were  placed  in  Mr. 
Lee’s  hands  for  consideration  and  after  due  deliberation  Mr.  Lee 
notified  Presbytery  of  his  desire  to  accept  the  call  of  the  latter  congre¬ 
gations-  In  this  united  call  is  found  the  first  mention  of  Center  con¬ 
gregation.  The  fact  that  the  congregation  joined  in  the  call  implies 
that  it  had  been  a  fixed  preaching  point  for  some  time  previous  and  had 
become  sufficiently  organized  to  assume  the  financial  obligation  indi¬ 
cated  in  the  call.  The  young  congregations  were  not  disheartened  when 
their  call  was  declined  but  promptly  sought  out  another  candidate.  At 
the  second  meeting  of  Erie  Presbytery  in  Union  Church  in  Armstrong 
County  Mr.  William  Woods,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was 
present,  holding  in  his  hands  the  joint  call  of  Plain  Grove  and  Center 
congregations,  each  asking  for  one-half  of  his  services.  The  call  was 


86 


accepted  and  in  a  few  months  Mr.  \\  oods  became  the  first  pastor  of 
Center  and  Plain  Grove  Churches.  Upon  this  occasion  the  Moderator 
pro  tern.,  Rev.  Robert  Lee,  preached  the  ordination  sermon  on  Mark 
16:15,16,  and  Rev.  John  McMillan,  D.  I).,  his  preceptor  in  Theology, 
gave  the  charge  to  the  young  pastor  and  people,  doubtless  at  the  earn¬ 
est  solicitation  of  his  student.  The  number  of  members  at  Center  at 
first  must  have  been  few  indeed  for  on  January  1,  1804,  the  combined 
membership  of  both  congregations  was  only  thirty-two.  What  names 
were  enrolled  in  either  church  in  the  beginning  cannot  even  be  con¬ 
jectured  now  but  the  settlement  at  Plain  Grove  was  much  larger  than 
that  around  Center.  Yet  Center  bravely  attempted  to  provide  her 
part  of  the  pastor’s  salary.  To  secure  one-half  of  a  very  modest  salary 
by  the  few  pioneer  families  when  money  was  very  scarce  shows  how 
God’s  word  was  loved  and  trusted  and  how  the  people  prized  the 
church  and  God’s  ministering  servant  in  their  midst.  At  first  Rev. 
Woods  lived  on  a  small  farm  near  Mr-  Robert  Glenn  in  Center  Con¬ 
gregation,  but  in  1805  he  sold  his  property  and  bought  sixty  acres  on 
Wolf  Creek,  south  of  Plain  Grove.  He  was  not  adapted  to  pioneer 
life,  lacked  business  qualities  and  was  usually  in  debt.  No  doubt  the 
subscribers  at  Center  found  it  very  difficult  to  raise  their  pledges,  and 
to  be  importuned  by  a  pastor  in  debt  caused  irritation.  By  mutual 
agreement  of  the  pastor  and  congregation  in  1806  Rev.  Woods  was 
released  from  one-third  of  the  services  promised  to  Center.  Still  the 
pastor  was  not  comfortable  and  in  1808  he  requested  Presbytery  to  re¬ 
lease  him  wholly  from  Center.  The  congregation  was  cited  to  show 
cause  why  the  request  should  not  be  granted.  The  commissioner  from 
the  congregation  informed  the  Presbytery  that  “Center  Church  was  de¬ 
sirous  of  retaining  their  pastor.”  The  Presbytery  also  appointed  a 
committee  of  three  to  fix  a  suitable  meeting  place  for  the  congregation. 
But  all  efforts  failed  to  overcome  the  difficulties  and  the  pastor  was 
released  August  24.  1808.  Mr.  Woods  continued  to  serve  Plain  Grove 
until  October,  1816. 

The  second  pastor.  Rev.  John  Munson,  was  well  adapted  to  such 
a  field  of  service.  I  hirty-four  years  of  age  was  he  when  he  began  his 
first  and  only  pastorate.  For  twenty  years  he  served  Plain  Grove, 
when  he  resigned  and  devoted  all  his  time  to  Center.  1  le  continued 
pastor  of  Center  until  June  28,  1859,  when  he  was  released  after  a  pas¬ 
torate  of  forty-one  years.  Mr.  Munson  had  been  inured  to  hardship 
from  youth.  He  came  to  Center  mature  in  convictions  and  regarded 
life  as  a  serious  business.  His  body  was  of  heroic  mould  and  capable  of 
great  endurance.  He  rode  miles,  winter  or  summer,  to  fulfill  appoint¬ 
ments  in  distant  parts  of  the  Presbytery.  He  was  an  adept  in  theology, 
an  able  disputant  in  the  controversies  of  the  day  and  swerved  not  from 
conscience  and  duty.  To  many  he  seemed  austere  but  his  Puritanic 


87 


piety  and  deep  reverence  for  God  and  the  Judgment  doubtless  caused 
him  to  appear  harsh.  In  1862  Center  was  able  to  report  314  members, 
the  largest  number  in  its  history.  This  was  in  the  pastorate  of  the 
third  pastor,  Rev.  \Y.  \\  .  McKinney. 

The  later  history  of  Center  is  well  known  to  the  older  residents  of 
the  community. 

1  he  first  house  of  worship  reared  by  Center  congregation  was  lo¬ 
cated  about  forty  rods  west  of  the  Mercer  Road  and  a  half  mile  north 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Grove  City.  An  old  lady,  still  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Grove  City  Church,  remembers  going  to  the  spring  near  the 
first  log  church  with  cousins  for  water  and  seeing  the  fallen  and  decay¬ 
ing  logs  at  this  place.  Later  a  larger  log  building  was  erected  on  the 
present  church  grounds.  The  large  brick  house  of  worship  was  com¬ 
pleted  in  18-  and  the  third  generation  is  worshiping  within  the  walls 
made  sacred  by  the  faith,  love  and  devotions  of  fathers  and  mothers 
long  since  in  glory. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Win.  W  ood,  1803-1808;  Rev.  John  Munson,  1818-1859;  Rev. 
W.  W.  McKinney,  1861-1865;  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Hughes,  1865-1870; 
Rev.  David  Patton,  1872-1875;  Rev.  Win.  J.  McConkey,  1875-18S7; 
Rev.  Samuel  A.  Hughes,  S.  S.,  1888-1890;  Rev.  Sherman  A.  Kirkbride, 
1892-1901;  Rev.  Thomas  \V.  Pearson,  1901-1909;  Rev.  Ernest  J. 
Wright,  1910-1914;  Rev.  Silas  C.  Elder,  191 3-. 

ELDERS 

Wm.  Glenn,  Andrew  Rose,  David  Courtney,  James  Brandon, 
Robert  Black,  Alexander  Black,  Daniel  Lber,  John  Breckenridge, 
V  alentine  C  Glenn,  Adam  Black,  Hugh  Miller,  James  T.  Glenn,  James 
Black,  John  B.  Bell,  Wm.  W.  Breckenridge,  Andrew  Breckenridge,  D.  F. 
Black,  Archie  M.  Glenn,  Samuel  McCune,  J.  L.  Moore,  David  W. 
Smith,  T.  Frank  Glenn  and  J.  Norman  Hunter. 

Present  Session ;  Wm.  C.  Black,  Wm.  S.  Black,  Archie  D.  Arm¬ 
strong,  John  I).  Williams,  Wm  \Y.  Hodil,  John  E.  Nelson,  George  K. 
Gilson  and  Albert  C.  Weber. 

MIDDLESEX 

The  origin  of  Middlesex  congregation  like  the  other  ten  pioneer 
congregations  within  the  present  bounds  of  Butler  Presbytery  is  not 
known.  Its  name  appears  first  in  the  minutes  of  Redstone  Presbytery 
for  April  10,  1799,  as  vacant  and  seeking  supplies.  It  was  then  a 
well  established  preaching  place  though  only  five  years  after  the  earliest 
settlers  came  into  the  region.  For  years  it  experienced  difficulties  and 
privations  common  to  the  early  churches  yet  it  persevered  in  well  do- 


88 


ing.  The  household  of  faith  requires  correction  and  discipline  as  well 
as  families  but  happy  is  the  church  that  is  most  free  from  internal 
disturbances  and  devotes  all  its  energies  to  convert  souls  and  build 
them  up  in  the  graces  of  the  1  Ioly  Spirit.  Fortunate  has  Middlesex 
been  in  this  respect. 

Mr.  Abraham  Boyd  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  June 
25,  1800,  and  probably  visited  Bull  Creek  and  Middlesex  congregations 
later  that  vear  for  he  was  received  into  Redstone  Presbytery  October 
21,  1801,  and  was  dismissed  the  same  day  to  put  himself  under  the 
care  of  the  new  “Presbytery  of  Erie  when  it  shall  be  constituted  in  the 
bounds  of  which  he  had  accepted  calls.”  1  le  was  received  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  on  April  13,  1802,  and  assignments 
were  made  for  his  ordination  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery  at 
Lnion  in  Armstrong  County,  June  15,  1802.  lie  was  ordained  at  the 
time  appointed.  Rev.  John  McMillan  preached  the  sermon  from 
Mark  16:15,  16  and  delivered  the  charges.  I  wo  days  later  he  was  in¬ 
stalled  first  pastor  of  Bull  Creek  and  Middlesex  Churches.  Rev. 
Boyd  was  released  from  Middlesex  June  25,  1817,  because  of  the  in¬ 
ability  of  the  congregation  to  provide  the  support  promised  their  pastor. 
In  early  times  dissolutions  were  frequent  for  this  reason  and  the  neces¬ 
sity  was  deeply  regretted  by  both  the  pastor  and  the  people. 
Occasionally,  too,  a  congregation  would  indicate  to  its  pastor  that  he 
was  no  longer  acceptable  by  withholding  the  support  pledged.  I  he 
hint  was  usually  accepted  with  good  grace  and  in  due  time  the  mutual 
obligations  were  severed. 

Preaching  services  were  held  in  the  open  air  for  nearly  two  years. 
A  small  platform  raised  a  little  above  the  ground  with  a  split  log  to 
hold  the  Bible  and  Psalm  Book  constituted  the  equipment  for  the 
minister.  The  worshipers  sat  upon  logs.  When  the  congregation  se- 


80 


cured  its  pastor  it  built  at  once  a  small  log  structure  in  keeping  with  the 
times.  This  building  was  located  in  the  corner  of  the  cemetery  nearest 
the  famous  spring.  This  building  was  replaced  in  1817  by  a  hewn 
log  house  of  worship  of  good  size.  It  stood  just  east  of  the  present 
building  and  was  regarded  as  a  splendid  building  at  that  time.  It  had 
glass  in  its  windows,  a  floor  and  ceiling  and  was  roofed  with  joint 
shingles.  The  nails  used  in  the  roof  and  other  parts  of  the  structure 
were  forged  by  a  local  blacksmith.  After  a  quarter  of  a  century  of 
service  it  was  succeeded  by  the  present  large  brick  building,  completed 
in  1842.  This  house  of  worship  has  a  descending  floor  which  was  an 
innovation  and  its  large  windows  had  small  panes  of  glass,  which  later 
gave  place  to  larger  panes  of  glass.  For  eighty  years  this  building 
has  not  shown  a  crack  in  its  walls,  a  memorial  to  the  faithfulness  of 
the  workmen.  More  than  two  generations  have  gathered  within  its 
walls  for  worship.  Souls  have  been  born  anew  and  worshiped  there 
until  the  tenement  of  clay  was  deposited  in  the  city  of  the  dead  hard  by 
its  sacred  walls.  Two  pastors,  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Kerr  and  Rev. 
Ephraim  Ogden  lie  among  their  faithful  parishioners  waiting  to  meet 
their  Lord  in  the  air  and  to  be  presented  “fautless  before  the  presence 
of  his  glory  and  with  exceeding  great  joy.” 

W  ho  can  measure  the  influence  and  power  of  this  church  in  the  past 

one  hundred  and  twenty  years  upon  civic  affairs  and  moral  principles 

of  the  community?  Rev.  Ogden  gave  his  entire  ministry  of  forty  years 

to  this  congregation.  Me  also  was  pastor  of  Westminster  for  ten  years, 

1848-1858,  at  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate  and  was  Stated  Supply  of 

* 

Summit  Church  from  July,  1870,  to  the  close  of  1888.  The  faithful 
work  of  this  thoughtful  servant  of  God  left  an  indelible  impress  upon 
the  life  and  ideals  of  the  entire  region.  Two  other  pastors  gave  years 
of  service,  Rev.  Boyd  remained  fifteen  years  and  Rev.  McMillan  almost 
sixteen  years.  During  the  pastorate  of  the  latter  a  beautiful  modern 
manse  was  built.  In  1901  the  church  was  repaired  and  refurnished, 
making  a  very  pleasant  and  desirable  place  of  worship.  The  cemetery 
has  been  graded  and  put  in  excellent  repair  and  a  considerable  endow¬ 
ment  fund  has  been  secured  to  maintain  this  lovely  city  of  the  dead. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Abraham  Boyd,  1802-1817;  Rev.  Reed  Bracken,  1820-1834; 
Rev.  J.  Watson  Johnson,  1836-1839;  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Kerr,  1841-1847; 
Rev.  Ephraim  Ogden,  1848-1888;  Rev.  Willis  S.  McNees,  1890-1903; 
Rev.  W.  Lamont  McMillan,  1904-1920;  Rev.  FI.  Russell  Crummy, 
1920-. 

ELDERS 

Hugh  Gilleland,  William  Johnson,  Robert  McCandless,  James 
Critchlow,  William  Critchlow,  William  Johnson,  Jr.,  James  Plummer, 


90 


John  Larimore,  John  Brown,  John  Gilleland,  Johnson  White,  Thomas 
Welsh,  Samuel  White,  Francis  McElwaine,  Robert  Patterson,  Joel  Kirk, 
William  S.  Wible,  Philip  Miller,  Robert  Stewart,  William  Brown, 
Alexander  Douthett,  Alexander  Hunter,  Robert  A.  Patterson,  Matthew 
B.  Rowan,  H.  Campbell  Miller,  James  D.  Anderson,  James  Martin  and 
James  M.  Rowan. 

Present  Session:  George  K.  Graham,  William  C.  Anderson,  Allen 
L.  Wilson,  William  Hunter,  J.  Newton  Maharg  and  J.  Renwick  Dou¬ 
thett. 

SC  RUB  GRASS 

The  first  settler  near  the  Scrubgrass  Church  was  James  Craig. 
He  came  from  Westmoreland  County  early  in  the  year  1795  and  built 
his  cabin  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  John  McCoy,  a  great  grand¬ 
son.  More  than  two 
years  later  the  earliest 
official  reference  t  o 
“Scrub-Grass”  as  a 
preaching  center  appears 
in  the  minutes  of  Red¬ 
stone  Presbytery  for 
October  17,  1797.  Among 
the  vacancies  requesting 
supplies  are  Bull  Creek, 
Bear  Creek  and  Scrub- 
grass.  These  preaching 
places  are  all  a  few  miles 
west  of  the  Allegheny 
River  and  due  north  of 
each  in  the  order  named. 
From  this  it  is  clear  that  the  hardy  minister  shared  the  hardships  and 
trials  of  pioneer  life.  Very  early  did  these  missionary  servants  search  out 
the  settlers  among  the  hills  and  in  the  lower  valleys,  led  them  like  a  shep¬ 
herd  to  some  central  and  convenient  place  and  taught  them  the  princi¬ 
ples  of  righteousness  and  Christian  duty.  The  congregation  chose  trus¬ 
tees  and  a  name.  Later  the  desire  for  “the  distinguishing  privileges”  of 
the  Lord’s  house,  Baptism  and  Sacrament,  the  congregation  assisted  by 
a  minister  elected  Elders.  These  were  ordained  and  Presbytery  was 
asked  to  enroll  the  new  church,  but  rarely  was  the  change  from  the  con¬ 
gregation  to  the  church  recorded  in  arlv  times.  Such  doubtless  was  the 
course  and  experience  of  Scrubgrass. 

Mr.  William  Morehead,  a  Licentiate  and  a  son-in-law  of  Dr.  John 
McMillan  was  appointed  by  Presbytery,  April,  1800,  to  “supply  at 
Bear  Creek  the  first  Sabbath  of  August,  at  Scrubgrass  the  2nd.”  That 


91 


the  ability  of  this  talented  young  man  was  quickly  recognized  is  evident 
for  the  following  minute  is  recorded  in  December  23,  1800:  “A  call 
from  the  United  Congregations  of  Scrubgrass  and  Bear  Creek,  also  a 
call  from  the  United  Congregations  of  Thorn  Ridge  and  Concord  were 
brought  in  and  read.  P.b.y.  agreed  to  put  them  in  his  hands  who 
took  them  into  consideration."  All  these  calls  were  declined,  yet  the 
action  of  Presbytery  implies  their  competence  to  have  a  pastor  install¬ 
ed.  At  least  Presbytery  regarded  Scrubgrass  and  Bear  Creek  as 
churches,  for  they  are  reported  to  the  first  meeting  of  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburgh,  September  30,  1802,  as  able  to  support  a  minister.  The 
number  of  members  at  first  must  have  been  small,  probably  only 
parents  of  young  families  and  these  were  scattered  over  a  radius  of 
ten  miles  from  the  present  site.  These  early  fathers  and  mothers  of  the 
church  were  inured  to  privations.  They  loved  and  prized  most  to  come 
to  this  height  for  worship.  Worship  with  them  was  religious  work. 
Starting  from  their  cabins  earlv  on  Sabbath  morning  thev  listened 
eagerly  to  the  explanation  of  the  Psalm  selected  for  the  day  and  two 
long  doctrinal  sermons  with  half  an  hour  between  for  some  food  and 
drink.  They  made  the  hills  and  valleys  resound  to  favorite  Psalms 
of  Rouse’s  Version.  The  shades  of  evening  would  be  gathering  when 
some  reached  their  distant  homes,  but  still  they  were  grateful  for  the 
privileges  of  the  day. 

It  is  related  that  when  the  first  Communion  Service  was  held  late 
in  the  autumn  of  1803  and  soon  after  Rev.  Robert  Johnson  became 
its  first  pastor  that  people  came  from  great  distances  to  enjoy  this 
gracious  privilege.  A  deep  snow  fell  on  Sabbath  night,  but  the  people, 
undaunted,  gathered  and  sweeping  the  snow  from  the  logs  sat  for  two 
hours  Spartan-like  with  feet  in  the  snow  listening  gladly  to  God’s 
message. 

Scrubgrass  was  one  of  the  most  vigorous  and  progressive  of  the 
pioneer  churches.  Its  members  sincerely  loved  and  honored  the  church 
and  its  ordinances.  It  has  been  blessed  with  spiritual  confidence  of  all 
who  loved  God  deeply.  Such  leaders  awakened  the  intellectual  and 
spiritual  wealth  of  the  congregation  and  sent  it  forth  to  bless  and  enrich 
many  vocations.  The  impress  of  such  leadership  and  years  of  co¬ 
operative  fellowship  still  moulds  the  ideals,  spirit  and  life  of  its  pres¬ 
ent  membership  as  if  by  an  unseen  hand.  The  sturdy  and  stalwart 
men  of  faith  that  composed  the  Eldership  bore  a  conspicuous  part  also 
in  directing  the  household  of  faith. 

Many  events,  incidents  and  experiences  in  the  life  of  this  congre¬ 
gation  in  the  past  one  hundred  twenty  years  are  worthy  of  a  separate 
record  by  a  gifted  pen.  To  name  the  more  prominent  of  these  bring 
tears  of  gladness  or  sorrow.  The  “falling  exercise"  in  the  beginning 
of  Rev.  Johnson’s  pastorate,  the  farmers  evicted  by  land  jobbers  from 


92 


farms  they  had  cleared  and  improved,  the  introduction  of  stoves  in 
the  church,  change  to  Watts’  Psalms  and  1  Iymns,  views  on  temperance, 
slavery  and  revivals,  origin  of  moral,  cent  and  missionary  societies, 
the  discontinuance  of  the  bans  of  matrimony,  fast  days,  Monday  ser¬ 
vice  after  Communion,  the  use  of  tokens  and  the  coming  by  families 
to  the  table  and  many  more  recent  methods.  1  he  drift  away  from  the 
farms  for  man}'  years  has  robbed  this  church  of  its  most  promising 
and  vigorous  young  people  and  created  difficulties  greater  than  those  just 
enumerated. 

For  three  things  Scrubgrass  has  been  especially  conspicuous, 
viz. :  First  she  has  been  a  mother  of  churches.  Out  of  her  original 
territory  four  churches  have  been  organized  east  of  the  Allegheny 
River  and  in  the  order  of  organization  the}'  are  Rockland,  Richland, 
Xickleville  and  Emlenton  besides  Clintonville,  New  Salem,  Allegheny 
and  groups  of  other  denominations.  Second,  the  young  men  of  the 
congregation  who  became  ministers  are  John  Redic,  John  Coulter, 
Cyrus  Riggs,  D.  D.,  Thomas  \Y.  Kerr,  Thomas  S.  Leason,  1).  D., 
William  B.  Stewart,  D.  D.,  Edward  Johnston,  James  Wright,  Alexander 
Crawford.  Samuel  M.  Anderson,  Samuel  Williams,  Thomas  C.  Ander¬ 
son.  Matthew  L.  Anderson  and  George  P.  Atwell.  Two  others,  James 
F.  Craig,  a  grandson  of  the  pioneer  settler,  died  while  a  student  of 
Western  Theological  Seminary,  and  Bernard  Leason  was  accidentally 
killed  just  before  entering  the  Seminar}’.  Third,  the  sustained  interest 
in  missions  and  the  number  who  devoted  their  lives  to  mission  fields 
from  this  congregation  are  especially  noteworthy.  Miss  Jennie  Ander¬ 
son,  who  sailed  for  China  in  1878  was  the  first  unmarried  woman 
who  engaged  in  country  work  in  the  Presbyterian  Mission  in  Northern 
China.  She  married  Rev.  J.  I  F  Laughlin  in  1886  and  died  in  China 
May  3,  1899.  M  iss  Emma  Anderson,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Laughlin,  spent 
several  years  in  China,  but  after  the  death  of  her  sister  she  returned 
to  care  for  an  invalid  mother.  Miss  Miriam  E.  Leason  began  work  in 
Old  Mexico  in  1875,  but  was  compelled  to  return  in  1877  only  to  die 
the  next  year  of  the  White  Plague.  Miss  Idannah  Riggs,  a  daughter 
of  the  second  pastor,  began  work  among  the  Indians  along  the  Maumee 
River  in  1823,  but  after  eleven  years  of  consecrated  toil  her  health 
broke  under  the  strain.  She  returned  home  and  was  an  invalid  for  the 
remainder  of  her  life. 

PLACES  OF  WORSHIP 

"The  groves  were  God’s  first  temples.”  Then  a  platform  a  few 
feet  square  was  raised  a  few  feet  above  the  ground  for  the  minister  as  in 
Ezra’s  day,  while  the  people  sat  on  logs  which  had  been  drawn  into 
place  by  oxen.  The  first  church  building  was  a  small  structure  of 
round  logs,  clapboard  roof,  puncheon  floor  and  pulpit,  with  a  door  and 
oiled  paper  for  windows.  It  was  reared  in  the  northwestern  part  -ot 


91 


the  cemetery  after  the  Communion  noted  elsewhere.  It  was  doubtless 
the  work  of  a  day  by  men  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  ax  and  the  com¬ 
munity  rejoiced  over  its  humble  house  of  worship.  The  awakening  of 
a  hundred  souls  the  first  winter  soon  compelled  the  congregation  to 
take  out  almost  one  side  of  their  building  and  add  a  shed.  This  build¬ 
ing  served  for  nearly  a  dozen  years  as  a  shelter  in  stormy  weather  and 
in  fair  weather  the  congregation  usually  worshipped  in  the  grove.  As 
nearly  as  can  be  learned  a  frame  structure  was  begun  in  1815.  It  had 
sawed  lumber  for  siding,  floor  and  pews.  It  also  had  a  shingle  roof, 
six  windows  of  real  glass  and  a  very  neat  pulpit.  This  building  was 
without  any  provision  for  heating,  but  fully  expressed  the  desire  of  the 
congregation  to  make  the  house  of  the  Lord  more  beautiful  than  their 
own  dwellings.  It  was  located  almost  in  front  of  the  present  building 
and  continued  in  use  for  thirty  years. 

In  Rev.  John  R.  Agnew’s  pastorate  the  church  could  not  accommo¬ 
date  those  who  waited  upon  his  winsome  ministry.  At  the  June  Com¬ 
munion  service  of  1844  it  was  decided  to  hold  the  service  at  the  tent 
in  the  grove  owing  to  the  heat  and  the  great  crowd  present.  A  thun¬ 
derstorm  drove  the  people  to  the  church,  but  all  could  not  find  shelter. 
Many  were  so  disappointed  that  the  solemn  service  was  broken  up  and 
could  not  be  completed.  Rev.  John  Coulter  who  was  assisting  the  pas¬ 
tor  took  occasion  at  the  Monday  service  to  speak  freely  as  a  son  of  the 
congregation.  1 1  is  masterly  array  of  the  facts  caused  the  hearts  of  the 
people  to  covenant  with  God  and  their  fellow  worshipers  to  arise  and 
build.  A  stone  building  was  agreed  upon.  The  work  began  at  once 
and  was  prosecuted  with  such  vigor  that  the  foundation  for  the  spacious 
building  was  completed  that  fall.  During  the  winter  stone  was  quar¬ 
ried  and  hauled  to  the  site.  The  workmen  slackened  not  until  the 
splendid  building,  perched  upon  Nebo’s  heights,  was  complete.  Then 
a  grateful  pastor  and  people  dedicated  it  to  the  Glory  of  God  in  1845. 
Into  the  very  walls  of  this  house  of  worship  were  wrought  the  strength 
and  faith,  hopes  and  love  of  a  people  who  delighted  to  honor  God  but 
they  further  hallowed  it  by  reverent  worship  and  praise.  For  many 
years  the  church  was  well  filled  Sabbath  by  Sabbath  with  thoughtful 
and  reverent  believers.  Parents  and  children  grew  apace  in  the  grace 
and  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ.  Happiness,  contentment  and  peace 
blessed  the  firesides  among  the  hills  and  valleys.  But  a  new  era  was  at 
hand,  an  era  of  manufacture  and  commerce,  that  had  no  respect  for 
home,  family  or  church.  From  the  latter  sons  and  daughters  were 
drawn  away  as  by  an  invisible  magnet.  In  this  movement  the  home 
and  church  suffered  together.  Idle  home  was  stripped  of  its  children, 
except  a  son  or  daughter  who  voluntarily  chose  to  remain  with  aging 
parents.  And  the  “Stone  Church.”  once  the  glory  of  a  large  region  can 
accommodate  two  congregations  of  the  present  number.  In  the  sum- 


94 


mer  the  worshipers  are  sprinkled  over  the  large  room  and  in  wintei 
because  the  church  is  so  difficult  to  heat  services  are  conducted  in  a 
frame  building  on  the  church  grounds.  I  he  auditorium  cannot  be 
divided  conveniently  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  present  congregation  and 
the  building  is  in  too  good  a  state  of  repair  to  be  torn  down.  1  his 
church  has  rendered  a  splendid  service  to  mankind  and  may  the  Lord 
continue  to  bless  her  and  give  her  spiritual  strength  in  the  coming  years. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Robert  Johnston.  1803-1811;  Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs,  1814-1834; 
Rev.  John  R.  Agnew,  1838-1845;  Rev.  Ebenezer  Henry,  1847-1856; 
Rev.  Jonathan  R.  Coulter.  1857-1901;  Rev.  James  H.  Lawther,  1901- 
1906;  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Thompson,  1906-1908;  Rev.  John  \\  .  Wither¬ 
spoon.  Jr.,  1909-1917;  Rev.  William  C.  Work,  1918-1920;  Rev.  Arnold 
J.  Sauerbrunn,  1920-1922. 

ELDERS 

John  Lowrie,  John  Crawford,  Robert  Menach,  John  Sloan,  Thomas 
McKee,  John  McQuistion,  William  Crawford,  Esq  ,  Robert  Leason, 
James  Crawford,  Samuel  Riggs,  James  Leslie,  John  Anderson,  John 
Moyne,  John  McKee,  Robert  P.  Anderson,  George  S.  Jamison,  Plenty 
Kohlmeyer,  David  M.  Crawford,  Thomas  C.  Morrison,  Frank  Riddle, 
James  E.  Miller.  William  K.  Curtis,  James  A.  Eakin,  Thomas  A.  Craw¬ 
ford  and  Joseph  A.  Crawford. 

Present  Session :  J.  Sterling  Glenn,  Ora  H.  Anderson.  Edwin  E. 
Say,  John  F.  Miller,  Thomas  A.  Lovell.  Elmer  E.  Jamison  and  Ralph 
McCoy. 

CONCORD 

The  earliest  settlers  of  the  region  from  which  Butler  County  was 
carved  were  of  Irish  and  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  They  were  the  van¬ 
guard  of  the  stream  of  emigrants  from  the  middle  and  eastern  portions 
of  the  state  that  swept  over  the  Allegheny  Mountains  and  spread  over 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  Eastern  Ohio.  This  movement  allured 
many  families  from  the  more  settled  portions  east  of  Pittsburgh  and 
man_\’  pastors  bade  their  staunchest  parishioners  Godspeed  with  heart 
pangs  and  tearful  eyes.  It  is  not  surprising  then,  that  pastors  asked 
that  they  might  be  granted  several  weeks  leave,  as  there  were  no  vaca¬ 
tions  in  those  days,  to  visit  the  brethren  at  the  front.  Doubtless  Rev. 
John  McPherrin’s  first  visit  into  what  is  now  Butler  County,  to  preach 
the  Gospel  in  the  isolated  settlements  in  the  regions  beyond  was  to 
learn  at  first  hand  how  the  Christians  fared.  Such  journeys  were 
usually  undertaken  in  the  early  summer.  He  left  his  two  churches  in 
Westmoreland  Count}'  and  preached  in  1799  under  a  sturdy  oak  on  the 
present  grounds  of  Concord  Church.  “I  will  go  in  the  strength  of 
the  Lord.  I  will  make  mention  of  thy  righteousness  even  thine  only.” 


95 


Psalm  71:16  was  the  text  used  and  is  thought  to  be  the  first  sermon 
preached  in  this  vicinity.  It  seemed  that  his  hearers  were  so  eager, 
attentive  and  harmonious  that  he  named  this  preaching  point  Concord 
and  that  name  has  never  been  changed.  After  Rev.  McPherrin  re¬ 
turned  to  his  churches  doubtless  others  preached  here  and  kept  the 
interest  from  waning,  for  in  the  first  report  of  Erie  Presbytery  to  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  on  October  30,  1802,  Concord 
is  included  among  “the  vacancies  not  able  to  support  a  pastor.”  On 
April  20,  1803,  Rev.  McPherrin  was  released  from  Salem  Church, 
having  been  released  from  Unity  June  28,  1800,  and  was  now  free  to 
levisit  this  part  again.  He  must  have  preached  also  at  Muddy  Creek 
for  these  congregations  are  reported  to  the  Synod  of  1803  as  “able  to 
support  a  pastor.”  It  seems  that  he  supplied  these  congregations,  but 
how  fully  they  became  organized  is  not  known.  Ministers  rather  than 
Presbyteries  organized  congregations  and  later  churches  in  missionary 
regions.  Presbyteries  enrolled  such  churches  when  they  sought  sup¬ 
plies  or  presented  calls  for  a  pastor.  At  least  “steps  were  taken  for  his 
becoming  the  pastor  of  the  United  Congregations  of  Concord,  Thorn 
Ridge  and  Muddy  Creek.”  In  1804  this  call  or  another  “was  accepted 
by  him,  one-third  of  his  ministerial  labors  being  appropriated  to  each.” 

From  these  statements  it  will  be  seen  that  the  organization  could 
have  been  effected  in  either  1803  or  1804.  Dr.  J.  Redick  Coulter,  a 
son  of  Concord’s  second  pastor,  favor  1804  and  his  statement  has  been 
accepted  by  the  congregation.  It  is  satisfactory  to  know  the  source  of 
a  spring,  but  it  is  better  to  know  the  product  of  an  unfailing  spring.  We 
can  forget  the  facts  of  the  origin  of  a  church  if  the  people  have  loved 
the  church  generation  after  generation,  because  they  were  born  anew 
there  and  “grew  in  grace  and  knowledge  of  the  Ford  Jesus  Clvist.” 

The  first  communion  was  held  in  1805  when  twenty-six  persons 

96 


surrounded  the  Lord’s  table.  Since  that  time  Concord  has  not  ceased 
to  witness  for  Christ  bringing  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance.  She 
still  keeps  her  lamp  well  trimmed  and  is  most  loyal  to  Christ.  Until 
recently  it  has  been  one  of  the  strongest  and  sturdiest  of  country  con¬ 
gregations,  a  real  community  center  and  a  vital  factor  in  the  lives  of 
multitudes.  In  Rev.  James  II.  Marshall’s  pastorate  its  membership 
reached  two  hundred  seventy-two  which  was  exceeded  in  Rev.  I  Iouk’s 
service  when  three  hundred  three  were  enrolled.  Recent  industrial  con¬ 
ditions  have  called  from  her  bounds  many  enterprising  young  men 
and  women  and  the  church  as  well  as  the  homes  is  deprived  of  those 
who  are  best  able  to  keep  home  and  church  most  vital  in  society  and 
government. 

This  church  has  had  three  notable  seasons  of  refreshing.  In  the 
winter  of  1 S 5 7 - 5 S  sixty*  persons  were  added;  forty-five  at  one  com¬ 
munion.  What  a  notable  sight  when  a  row  clear  across  the  church  in 
front  of  the  pulpit  stood  up  to  acknowledge  the  Lord  God,  consisting 
of  parents  and  children,  old  men  and  grandchildren,  young  men  and 
maidens.  This  awakening  came  in  the  later  part  of  Rev.  John  Coulter’s 
pastorate  of  forty  years  and  was  the  reaping  of  years  of  faithful  seed 
sowing.  A  second  awakening  came  about  the  middle  of  Rev.  James 
M.  Marshall’s  service  when  sixty-three  persons  had  united  with  the 
church  by  July,  1876.  This  religious  seriousness  gripped  the  com¬ 
munity  for  weeks  and  was  characteristic  of  this  pastorate  which  received 
one  hundred  sixty-seven  on  confession  and  sixty-five  by  letter  in 
twenty-four  years.  The  third  revival  came  in  1895  in  the  first  year  of 
Rev.  Robert  L.  Alter’s  pastorate  when  again  fifty-eight  names  were 
placed  on  the  church  roll.  In  all  these  quickenings  of  the  Lloly  Spirit 
many  lives  bore  continuous  evidence  of  the  genuineness  of  the  work  ot 
grace.  The  real  strength  of  this  church  has  been  in  the  healthy  and 
gradual  accessions  to  its  membership.  These  were  trained  slowly  to 
honor  and  love  and  support  the  church  as  of  first  importance  to  their 
lives. 

Concord  has  had  three  church  buildings  at  least.  Rev.  W.  H. 
Sloan  thinks  that  the  first  small  log  building  stood  across  the  road 
from  the  cemetery.  Dr.  Eaton  in  History  of  Erie  Presbytery  describes 
this  building  as  having  “an  earthen  floor,  split  log  seats  and  an  old 
fashioned  wood  fire  place.  1  he  second  church  edifice  was  also  of  logs 
and  was  thirty  feet  square.  It  was  afterwards  enlarged  by  the  addition 
of  thirty  feet  to  its  length.  In  1838  the  present  brick  structure  was 
erected.  I  here  is  not  a  crack  in  the  walls  of  this  building,  which  has 
been  standing  for  eighty-four  years.  Recently  the  building  lias  been 
refurnished  and  meets  the  needs  of  this  worthy  people. 

The  ministerial  product  of  this  church  is  the  largest  in  the  Pres¬ 
bytery  with  the  exception  of  Grove  City,  which  is  the  seat  of  Grove 


City  College.  Its  sons  who  became  ministers  are:  George  W.  Mechlin, 
D.  D.,  Samuel  P.  Kinkaid,  James  M.  Smith,  J.  Harper,  Thomas  Gra¬ 
ham,  J.  Redic  Coulter,  D.  D.,  Josiah  McPherrin,  Perry  S.  Allen,  D.  D., 
Charles  P.  Marshall  and  Wilbur  M.  Campbell.  Mr.  D.  M.  Rankin 
was  a  candidate  but  did  not  complete  the  course  of  study.  Three  of 
the  above  were  sons  of  pastors  of  the  church. 

Concord  contributed  members  to  form  seven  Presbyterian  churches 
on  her  borders.  These  daughters  and  the  year  of  organization  were: 
Pleasant  Valley,  1845;  New  Salem,  1847:  North  Butler,  1848;  West 
Sunbury,  1860;  Fairview,  1875;  karns  City,  1876,  and  North  Wash¬ 
ington,  1880.  In  the  same  bounds  other  denominations  have  estab¬ 
lished  fruitful  churches,  viz.,  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  at  Hooker, 
Mt.  Varnum  and  West  Sunbury  United  Presbyterian  Churches,  North 
Washington,  West  Sunbury,  Greece  City,  and  Troutman  Methodist 
Episcopal  Churches  and  North  Washington,  Zion  and  Springdale 
Lutheran  Churches.  What  better  testimony  is  needed  to  prove  the 
the  religiousness  of  the  residents  of  the  original  parish  of  the  Concord 
Church. 

The  congregation  joyfully  celebrated  the  centennial  of  its  organiza¬ 
tion  October  11,  1904,  and  rejoiced  that  “those  that  be  planted  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God.  They  shall 
still  bring  forth  fruit  in  their  old  age;  they  shall  be  fat  and  flourishing 
to  show  that  the  Lord  is  upright. ” 

The  congregation  suffered  the  irreparable  loss  of  all  congregational 
records  October  22,  1922,  when  the  house  of  its  faithful  clerk,  Milton 
W.  Campbell,  was  burned. 


MINISTERS 

Rev.  John  McPherrin,  1805-1822;  Rev.  John  Coulter,  1823-1864; 
Rev.  James  II.  Marshall,  1865-1889;  Rev.  James  H.  Wright,  1891- 
1892;  Rev.  Robert  L.  M.  Alter,  1894-1903;  Rev.  Wilson  II.  Sloan, 
1903-1910;  Rev.  Clarence  E.  Houk,  1911-1915;  Rev.  George  P.  Stew¬ 
art,  1916-1920;  Rev.  William  W.  MacEwan,  1921-192 2-. 

Jeremiah  Sutton,  Sen.,  Hugh  Conway,  Sen.,  William  Christy, 
Andi  *ew  Christy,  John  Christy,  John  Shrvock,  Robert  Hamilton, 
William  McElvaine,  Samuel  Russell,  William  Robb,  Samuel  Glenn, 
John  H.  Christy,  Richard  Allen,  David  J.  Russell,  Samuel  Russell, 
Thomas  E.  Coulter,  Peter  Kamerer,  John  S.  Campbell,  Harvey  Camp¬ 
bell,  Isaac  H.  Christy,  Samuel  Russell,  Robert  N.  Emery,  J.  Howard 
Coulter  and  Samuel  Y.  Coulter. 

Present  Session :  Platt  R.  Sutton,  Milton  W.  Campbell,  William 
II.  Kuhn,  Washington  Fleming  and  Jeremiah  Sutton. 


98 


MUDDY  CREEK 


The  early  history  of  this  church  is  closely  related  to  that  of  Con¬ 
cord.  An  early  tradition  says  that  the  Rev.  John  McPherrin  preached 
at  this  point  on  his  first  visit  in  1799.  It  is  certain  that  upon  his  return 
in  the  spring  or  early  summer  of  1803  he  preached  regularly  near  the 
present  site  in  connection  with  Concord  and  Thorn’s  Ridge,  for  steps 
were  taken  by  these  congregations  to  make  a  joint  call  for  his  pastoral 
services  in  the  autumn  of  that  year.  This  effort  may  not  have  been 
completed,  for  in  1804  the  call  was  issued.  Erie  Presbytery  received 
Rev.  McPherrin  from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  in  April,  1805,  and 
soon  after  he  became  the  pastor  of  Concord,  Muddy  Creek  and  Har¬ 
mony  Churches  in  Butler  County.  In  1808  Rev.  McPherrin  is  reported 
to  Svnod  as  pastor  of  Concord  alone  and  the  name  of  Muddy  Creek  is 
lost  from  all  reports  after  1807  until  John  Coulter  became  pastor  of 
Butler,  Concord  and  Muddy  Creek  September  10,  1823.  No  doubt  it 


still  continued  to  be  a  preaching  point  for  some  time,  but  the  formation 
of  the  Harmony  Congregation,  five  miles  to  the  southeast  weakened 
Muddy  Creek  and  may  have  been  the  chief  reason  for  its  decline. 
Later  when  Butler  Congregation  was  organized  the  Elders  of  Muddy 
Creek  joined  the  Butler  Church  and  Muddy  Creek  was  practically 
disorganized  and  without  pastoral  care.  Still  there  was  an  increasing 
population  needing  gospel  privileges.  Through  the  zeal  of  Licentiate 
John  Coulter  the  smouldering  embers  were  revived  and  Muddy  Creek 
became  an  integral  part  of  his  charge. 

Rev.  Coulter  served  the  church  27  years  and  Rev.  Samuel  Wil¬ 
liams  served  Centerville  in  connection  with  Muddy  Creek  from  April 
14,  1857,  to  June  27,  1869,  but  continued  to  serve  Muddy  Creek  until 
his  death  May  11,  1895 — a  period  of  more  than  38  years.  In  his  long 
pastorate  410  members  were  added  to  the  95  when  he  came.  Two  re¬ 
vivals  occurred  in  his  pastorate.  The  first  in  March,  1858,  when  30 
persons  became  members,  and  in  April,  1877,  another  season  of  in- 


99 


gathering  was  enjoyed  when  65  enlisted  under  the  banner  of  King 
Jesus. 

One  member,  Moore  Alcjunkin,  became  a  minister. 

The  first  house  was  20  by  25  feet  and  was  covered  with  clap¬ 
boards  and  weighted  by  poles  about  the  size  of  modern  telephone 
poles,  due  to  the  scarceness  of  nails.  It  stood  about  60  rods  north  of 
the  present  building.  In  coming  to  worship  in  this  building  the  men 
carried  guns  for  protection  from  wandering  Indian  bands  and  wild 
animals. 

The  second  building  stood  just  a  few  feet  north  of  the  present 
house  and  was  erected  in  1824.  It  was  built  of  hewn  logs  and  was  30 
by  60  feef  in  size  with  a  projection  midway.  This  building  had  a 
pulpit,  was  ceiled  with  boards  and  had  plastered  walls.  It  was  heated 
by  stoves  and  was  accounted  one  of  the  best  houses  of  worship  in  the 
Presbytery.  The  present  brick  building  was  begun  in  1845  but  was 
not  finished  until  1852.  For  years  the  church  was  crowded  with  atten¬ 
tive  and  reverent  worshipers.  It  has  been  noted  for  its  conservative 
attitude  and  was  slow  to  adopt  radical  changes.  It  suffered  from  the 
ills  to  which  human  nature  is  heir  in  pioneer  days,  yet  persevering  in 
the  right  way  has  witnessed  faithfully  for  Christ.  The  centennial  of 
the  church  was  celebrated  September  18-21,  1904.  The  church  is 
greatly  annoyed  during  the  hours  of  worship  by  the  great  number  of 
autos  speeding  up  to  make  the  hill  on  the  improved  road  which  passes 
near  the  church. 

Rev.  John  McPherrin,  1805-1808;  Rev.  John  Coulter,  1823-1850; 
Rev.  Alexander  Cunningham,  1852-1856;  Rev.  Samuel  Williams,  1857- 
1895;  Rev.  John  M.  Oliver,  1897-1901;  Rev.  James  A.  Pittenger,  1903- 
1908;  Rev.  Hugh  S.  Shaw,  1904-1916;  Rev.  George  IT  Cheeseman, 

191 6-. 

ELDERS 

David  Findley,  William  McCandless,  Samuel  Turk,  William  Gib¬ 
son,  David  Mcjunkin,  Robert  Stewart,  Joseph  Timblin,  Andrew  Turk, 
Josiah  Mcjunkin,  Robert  Thompson,  John  R.  Mcjunkin,  William 
Christie,  Nathan  F.  McCandless,  Ephraim  Allen,  Samuel  Findley, 
James  Thompson,  Robert  McBride,  J.  Munson  McNees,  Samuel  C. 
Turk,  William  M.  Webb,  J.  Cypreon  Snyder,  Hon.  Nelson  FF  Thomp¬ 
son  and  Robert  C.  Thompson. 

Present  Session :  William  J.  Stoner,  S.  Ross  Miller  and  Ellis  K. 
Naugle. 

MOUNT  NEBO 

A  revival  on  the  Red  River  in  Eastern  Kentucky  in  1789  was  des¬ 
tined  to  affect  this  region  deeply  and  later  gave  rise  to  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  This  revival  was  the  religious  reaction  against 
the  lawlessness  and  infidelity  that  became  so  prevalent  after  the 


100 


Revolutionary  War.  It  soon  overflowed  its  local  bounds  and  ceased 
not  to  spread  until  it  had  reached  nearly  every  part  of  the  country.  It 
passed  through  the  scattered  settlements  of  Western  Pennsylvania  in 
the  years  1802  and  1803.  In  the  latter  year  Rev.  Robert  Johnson,  the 
first  pastor  of  Scrubgrass  Church,  had  an  experience  of  it  and  left  an 
account  of  “the  falling  exercises”  that  occurred  in  his  church.  1  he 
territory  later  embraced  in  Mount  Nebo  Congregation  shared  in  this 
revival  and  the  physical  phenomena  accompanying  it.  This  instance 
is  narrated  by  Andrew  \V.  McCullough:  “Stephen  Crawford  was  a 
blacksmith  of  great  physical  strength  and  impulsiveness  of  mind  and 
entirely  out  of  harmony  with  the  idea  that  these  physical  exercises  were 
attributed  to  any  other  cause  than  the  powers  of  darkness.  When  he 
reached  the  place  some  one  told  him  before  he  entered  the  building  that 
a  neighbor  of  his,  naming  him,  had  just  fallen  over  and  was  lying  as  if 
dead.  Me  immediately  lost  his  temper  and  replied,  I  ’ll  soon  wake  him 
up  when  1  go  in  and  take  hold  of  him.’  He  pulled  the  door  open  with 
a  jerk  and  lo  he  fell  prostrate  by  the  side  of  his  unconscious  neighbor 
and  there  the  two  strong  men  lay  oblivious  of  everything  about  them. 
That  was  the  conversion  experience  of  Stephen  Crawford,  and  from 
that  time  forth  his  whole  manner  of  life  was  changed.  From  a  self- 
reliant  and  boastful  man  he  became  as  humble  as  a  little  child  and  was 
a  faithful,  devoted  Christian  from  that  hour  until  he  closed  his  earthly 
career.”  Who  can  measure  the  influence  of  this  revival  upon  the  life, 
customs  and  piety  of  multitudes  in  this  county? 

Although  people  had  often  gathered  at  McLure’s  spring  for  wor¬ 
ship  before  the  revival,  it  was  the  latter  that  created  a  desire  for  the 
stated  means  of  grace.  The  field  was  white  to  the  harvest  but  there 
was  no  reaper.  Some  nameless  minister  gathered  the  people  into  a 


101 


congregation  for  the  name  of  Mount  Nebo  is  found  first  in  the  report  of 
Erie  Presbytery  to  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  October  4,  1805. 

The  laborers  were  few  and  God  seemed  to  test  the  faith  and  try 
the  sincerity  of  the  people  and,  severe  as  this  test  was,  they  profited  by 
waiting  on  the  Lord.  It  was  in  the  summer  of  1806  that  Licentiate  Reed 
Bracken,  after  traveling  a  year  in  Ohio  and  Virginia  preached  to  vacant 
congregations,  came  first  to  this  shepherdless  flock.  At  once  the  hearts  of 
the  people  of  Plains  and  Mount  Nebo  Congregations  were  knit  to  the 
young  man  and  his  message  as  was  the  heart  of  Jonathan  to  the  heart  of 
David.  A  united  call  was  prepared  and  the  hearts  of  the  people  were 
gladdened  when  Mr.  Bracken  signified  his  readiness  to  accept  their  call. 
His  promise  having  been  given  and  though  ecclesiastical  machinery 
moved  very  deliberately,  they  were  content  with  his  presence  and  ser¬ 
vices.  It  was  on  April  20,  1808,  that  Mr.  Bracken  became  pastor  of 
Mount  Nebo  parish  with  a  radius  of  ten  miles,  in  connection  with 
Plains  congregation  of  like  extent.  Quite  an  undertaking  for  the  young 
minister  to  bear  the  word  of  life  to  one-third  of  all  the  Presbyterians 
in  the  county,  many  of  them  thoroughly  grounded  in  the  doctrines  once 
delivered  unto  the  Saints.  Though  he  was  more  than  six  feet  in 
height,  of  stalwart  frame  and  thirty  years  of  age  with  mind  matured 
and  with  settled  convictions  and  life  principles,  he  trusted  not  in  man 
nor  the  excellency  of  speech,  but  in  God  and  the  atoning  work  of  Jesus, 
lie  was  eager  to  be  used  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  convert  sinners  and  to 
edify  believers  and  through  a  long  ministry  he  was  not  disappointed. 

Mr.  Bracken  bought  a  farm  and  cleared  much  of  it  with  his  own 
hands,  often  spending  four  or  five  days  each  week  in  toil  to  secure 
the  necessities  for  his  family.  All  the  while  his  mind  was  active  for  he 
was  a  clear  and  accurate  thinker  and  on  Saturday  he  retired  to  his 
room  for  final  study  and  did  not  like  to  be  disturbed.  After  more 
than  eleven  years  of  faithful  service  at  Plains  he  was  released  October 
7,  1819,  but  in  September  of  the  next  year  he  became  pastor  of  Middle¬ 
sex  Church.  Lor  twelve  years  he  gave  Middlesex  one-half  of  his  labors, 
traveling  more  than  thirty  miles  in  making  the  trip  on  alternate  Sab¬ 
baths.  Meanwhile  he  was  ministering  to  neglected  and  outlying  settle¬ 
ments  such  as  Zelienople  and  Portersville.  He  really  resigned  from 
Middlesex  in  order  to  supply  Portersville.  In  all  these  changes  Mr. 
Bracken  continued  to  serve  Mount  Nebo;  then  the  Christian  warrior, 
after  thirty-six  years  of  faithful  service,  gave  place  to  a  more  vigorous 
worker.  Live  years  later  he  fell  asleep  July  29,  1849,  on  his  own  farm 
and  rests  among  the  people  he  loved  so  well. 

V  ithin  the  first  decade  of  his  ministry  Mount  Nebo  was  severely 
tested  on  the  question  of  Psalmody.  Rouse’s  version  was  adopted  by 
the  founders  of  the  church  and  was  very  precious  in  the  eyes  and  to  the 
hearts  of  the  older  and  more  conservative  members.  Many  favored 


102 


the  smoother  and  more  melodious  Version  of  Watts.  I  he  addition  oi 
Watts’  Hymns  abounding  in  gospel  truth  and  spirit  which  were  so 
effective  in  evangelistic  services  appealed  almost  i  r  resist  a  bl  \'  to  the 
vounger  and  more  progressive  members.  Especially  was  this  true  ol 
those  who  possessed  musical  taste  and  judgment  and  whose  voices  had 
been  trained  by  the  singing  masters  of  the  time.  So  acute  became  the 
question  that  families  who  had  worshiped  together  for  years  and  had 
eaten  as  brothers  at  the  Lord’s  table,  separated  and  walked  no  more  to¬ 
gether.  The  sadness  of  this  division  is  that  it  was  not  a  result  of  dif- 
ference  in  doctrine  and  policy  but  a  single  constituent  of  public 
worship,  the  matter  of  praise  and  not  the  manner  of  it.  And  the  sadder 
fact  remains  that  this  division  has  continued  for  more  than  a  century 
except  for  intermarriage.  Mr.  McCullough  estimated  that  one  hundred 
and  fifty  persons  were  lost  to  the  congregation  by  this  controversy. 
When  members  were  few  and  meant  so  much  to  pioneer  churches 
about  eighteen  members  withdrew  and  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  White  Oak  Springs  Associated  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mount  Nebo’s  fidelity  to  family  worship  and  memorizing  the 
Shorter  Catechism  was  largely  due  not  only  to  parental  interest  and 
fidelity,  but  also  to  frequent  reminders  of  this  responsibility  from  the 
pulpit.  In  most  of  the  homes  the  Sabbath  Day  closed  by  repeating 
the  Shorter  Catechism;  some  parents  becoming  so  proficient  that  they 
could  ask  the  questions  without  the  book.  Many  times  through  the 
week  mothers  labored  with  the  younger  members  in  memorizing  new 
questions  and  repeating  the  ones  already  learned.  Nor  was  the  pastor 
negligent.  In  the  autumn  of  each  year  he  passed  from  neighborhood 
to  neighborhood  inspecting  the  work  done  in  the  Catechism.  The 
places  and  times  of  such  reviews  were  announced  from  the  pulpit.  In 
much  fear  and  trembling  the  students  entered  the  lists,  for  all  knew 
that  accurate  work  must  be  done.  The  kindly  counsel  to  those  who 
were  not  quite  perfect  and  the  pastor’s  joy  over  those  who  were  success¬ 
ful  were  long  remembered  by  all  who  were  present.  And  in  the  pastoral 
visitations  the  Catechism  would  be  recited  by  pastor,  parents  and  chil¬ 
dren  together,  each  taking  the  question  in  turn.  Some  blessed  with 
retentive  memories  mastered  the  Larger  Catechism  and  all  of  its  details, 
while  manv  others  memorized  many  of  the  Psalms  and  large  sections 
of  the  New  Testament.  This  congregation  became  well  indoctrinated 
and  could  give  a  reason  for  the  hope  that  was  in  them.  This  church 
has  had  a  notable  body  of  Elders.  They  were  men  of  strong  natural 
gifts,  rugged  personality  and  resolute  convictions.  Such  men  thor¬ 
oughly  imbued  with  biblical  principles,  knew  what  they  believed  and 
believed  what  they  knew  with  the  certitude  of  Moses.  Some  of  these 
men  for  acumen,  penetration  and  power  of  persuasive  argument  would 
have  graced  the  judicial  bench. 


103 


This  church  celebrated  its  Centennial  on  September  20,  1905,  and 
Mr.  Andrew  McCullough,  a  grandson  of  Andrew  Spear  White,  one  of 
the  original  members  of  the  church,  himself  a  member  and  an  Elder  for 
some  years,  read  an  excellent  historic  and  reminiscent  paper  which  was 
published  later.  Mount  Nebo  has  performed  well  its  work  in  the  past 
but  its  duties  to  the  present  generation  require  equal  courage,  fidelity 
and  zeal  to  that  which  animated  the  past  generation. 

The  following  young  men  became  ministers:  Newton  Bracken, 
Loyal  Y.  Hayes,  and  Henderson  H.  Hayes. 

BUILDINGS 

From  the  first  Mount  Nebo  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  sec¬ 
tions  in  the  county.  The  congregation  manifested  its  delight  to  honor 
God  by  rearing  a  hewn  log  house  of  worship  in  1802.  The  floor  and 
pulpit  were  made  of  boards,  while  each  family  made  its  own  bench. 
This  church  was  considered  the  best  in  the  country,  but  the  congrega¬ 
tion,  in  spite  of  the  division,  so  overcrowded  the  building  that  in  1827 
bids  were  received  for  a  stone  building  forty  by  sixty  feet.  This  house 
was  completed  in  1834  and  stood  just  in  front  of  the  log  building.  It 
was  furnished  in  harmony  with  the  congregation’s  prosperity  and  de¬ 
votion  to  God.  Either  the  foundation  was  not  deep  and  strong  enough 
or  the  mortar  used  to  bind  the  walls  was  too  weak  for  the  walls  warped, 
mortar  fell  out  and  this  splendid  building  was  regarded  as  unsafe  after 
the  use  of  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Then  the  congregation  began  the 
erection  of  the  brick  house  of  worship  still  in  use.  It  is  no  longer 
crowded  and  even  the  names  of  many  families  who  worshiped  in  the 
log  church  are  not  found  on  the  present  rolls.  Mount  Nebo  has  con¬ 
tributed  generously  to  the  formation  and  upkeep  of  surrounding 
churches,  but  those  who  remain  are  still  true  to  the  Covenant  which 
the  founders  made  with  God  in  the  “Little  Clearing”  in  1805. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Reed  Bracken,  1808-1844;  Rev.  Lemuel  F.  Leake,  1845-1849; 
Rev.  Alexander  Cunningham,  1852-1860;  Rev.  William  P.  Harvison, 
1863-1867;  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Johnston,  1870-1882;  Rev.  Jonathan  \Y. 
Miller,  1884-1887;  Rev.  Watson  J.  Young,  1890-1893;  Rev.  Melzar  D. 
McClelland,  1895-1897;  Rev.  Wilson  H.  Sloan,  1897-1904;  Rev.  George 
P.  Stewart,  1904-1907;  Rev.  Charles  S.  McKinney,  1911-1917;  Rev. 
George  Timblin,  S.  S.,  1918-. 

ELDERS 

James  Plummer,  Joseph  McPherrin,  Isaac  Gibson,  Robert  Hays, 
John  Dick,  James  Welsh,  Thomas  Cratty,  John  Brandon,  James  Scott, 
Lhomas  Bracken,  James  D.  Anderson,  James  Brandon,  Bryson  Black, 
John  W.  Brandon,  Andrew  W.  McCullough,  John  Cratty,  Dr.  W.  N. 
Clark,  John  Martin,  John  Weigle,  Elliot  Robb,  Henry  C.  Welsh,  John 
A.  Brandon.  Reed  Nesbit,  Reed  B.  Gibson,  Jacob  Shiever,  Robert  S. 


104 


Hays,  Archibald  G.  Stewart.  W  illiam  F.  Stewart.  William  \Y.  Brandon, 
and  Frew  FI.  Stewart. 

Present  Session :  John  Welsh,  Greer  McCandless,  Cyrus  C. 
Blanev,  and  Edwin  P.  Campbell. 

PLAINS 

The  origin  of  Plains  Church  is  not  clear.  At  the  first  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  April  13,  1802,  there  is  a  “supplication”  for 
preaching  at  Breakneck  which  some  have  thought  refers  to  the  settle¬ 
ment  near  the  present  church.  The  first  official  reference  is  that  Mr. 
Reed  Bracken,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  went  “in  the  year 
1806  to  Butler  Count}'  where  he  received  calls  to  the  pastoral  charges 
of  Mount  Nebo  and  Plains.” 

The  church  fathers  worked  leisurely  and  deliberately.  They  re¬ 
quired  their  licentiates  and  even  those  who  had  completed  their  theologi¬ 


cal  instruction  to  itinerate  among  the  vacant  churches  for  several 
months  to  prove  their  capacity  for  ministerial  work  and  their  accept¬ 
ability  to  these  need}'  congregations.  The}’  laid  their  hands  suddenly 
on  no  man.  It  was  not  until  April  20.  1808,  that  Mr.  Bracken  was 
ordained  and  installed  in  these  congregations.  He  served  at  Plains 
until  October  7,  1819.  when  he  was  released.  No  reason  is  assigned 
but  probably  the  congregation  remained  small  and  was  unable  to  pro¬ 
vide  the  part  of  the  salary  promised.  This  often  occurred  in  early 
times  when  the  people  were  satisfied  and  regretted  the  move.  After 
Rev.  Bracken  withdrew  the  church  depended  upon  supplies.  Rev.  John 
Andrews  preached  frequently  during  this  interval. 

In  1828  Rev.  John  Moore  is  reported  pastor  of  Pine  Creek.  Cross 
Roads,  Cranberry  Plains  and  Deer  Creek.  Fie  was  released  from 
Plains  April  5.  1831.  The  congregational  supplies  became  irregular 
and  the  church  was  practically  disbanded  for  it  is  not  named  in  the 
reports  for  several  years.  Rev.  Aaron  Williams,  a  teacher  in  the  School 
of  Manual  Labor  at  Zelienople  maintained  by  Pittsburgh  Presbytery, 


105 


preached  some  in  the  vicinity  of  Plains.  The  church  was  revived 
under  the  preaching  of  Licentiate  Leland  R.  McAboy  and  united, 
January  1,  1838,  with  the  Cross  Roads  church  in  issuing  a  call  to  Mr. 
McAboy  and  he  became  their  pastor  September  25,  1838.  At  that 
time  there  were  thirty-two  members,  eleven  men  and  twenty-one  women: 
William  Graham,  Sen.,  Elizabeth  Graham,  Hannah  Graham,  Matthew 
Graham,  Margaret  Bowman,  Eleanor  Wilson,  James  Garvin,  Ann 
Covert,  Margaret  Boggs,  Jane  Boggs,  Margaret  Dunbar,  Susanna 
Staples,  Margaret  Richardson,  Andrew  Boggs,  John  Covert,  Mary 
Rowan,  William  Graham,  Jr.,  David  Graham,  Jane  Simpson,  Mary 
Graham,  Jane  Wallace,  Rebecca  Cooper,  Nancy  Garvin,  Robert  Boggs, 
Sr.,  Samuel  Boggs,  Ann  McGrigger,  Job  Staples,  Joseph  Richardson, 
Mary  Coats,  Mary  Ann  Boggs,  Mary  Covert,  Rebecca  Bolender. 
The  congregation  prospered  under  Rev.  McAboy ’s  ministry.  The 
church  and  pastor  were  transferred  by  Synod  to  the  new  Presbytery  of 
Allegheny  in  1853.  Automatically  Plains  Church  returned  to  Butler 
Presbytery  at  the  close  of  Rev.  McAboy’s  pastorate. 

June  28,  1864,  Plains  Church  was  transferred  again  to  Allegheny 
Presbytery.  This  was  effected  during  the  brief  pastorate  of  Rev.  John 
W.  Patton.  The  Reunion  of  1870  returned  Plains  Church  to  Butler  Pres¬ 
bytery.  The  minute  of  Session  for  September  5,  1879,  reads:  "Whereas 
attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  Butler  Presbytery  have  been  found 
to  be  much  more  inconvenient  and  expensive  than  Allegheny;  and 
whereas  there  is  now  a  good  prospect  of  forming  a  pastoral  connection 
in  Allegheny  Presbytery,  Therefore,  Resolved,  That  our  delegates  to 
Synod  be  instructed  to  take  whatever  steps  may  be  necessary  to  secure 
the  transfer  from  the  Prsbytery  of  Butler  to  the  Presbytery  of  Alle¬ 
gheny.”  Synod  granted  the  request  and  transferred  the  church  October, 
1879,  but  it  was  returned  again  to  Butler  Presbytery  June  14,  1898. 

FORMATION  OF  OTHER  CHURCHES 

Plains  has  contributed  many  members  in  the  organization  of  other 
churches.  On  February  18,  1883,  the  Session  granted  letters  to  thirty- 
nine  persons  and  these  were  organized  into  the  Evans  City  Presbyterian 
Church.  On  August  10,  1890,  the  following  minute  is  recorded:  “A 
petition  which  had  been  handed  to  J.  M.  Covert  by  Rev.  R.  C.  Yates 
was  read  asking  for  certificates  of  dismission  for  the  following  named 
persons  to  organize  a  church  at  Callery  Junction.  ‘Resolved  that  the 
certificates  be  granted  on  condition  that  the  paper  containing  the  indi¬ 
vidual  signatures  be  presented.’  ”  This  paper  having  been  received. 
Session  issued  Certificates  of  Dismission  to  the  following  named  peti¬ 
tioners:  James  Staples,  Mandana  Staples,  Maude  Staples,  William 
Staples,  Joseph  West,  Maria  West,  Fleming  West,  Margaret  West,  Ida 
West,  Mary  West,  Andrew  West,  Annie  L.  West,  Seth  P.  Staples, 
Nicol  Allan,  Nancy  Allan,  Annas  Metz,  Mary  Metz,  Alfred  Richard- 


106 


son.  Elizabeth  Richardson.  Annie  Richardson,  Sarah  Richardson, 
Joseph  Davis,  Jane  Davis,  John  Vandivort  and  Tillie  Goehring. 

After  this  group  withdrew  the  church  had  one  hundred  thirty-five 
members  on  its  roll.  Rev.  J.  E.  Hutchison  was  called  March  15,  1894, 
at  8500  for  half  time  but  the  call  was  declined.  Dr.  William  Taylor 
held  a  communion  service  April  28-30,  when  thirty  were  received  on 
examination  and  three  by  certificate.  This  large  addition  greatly  en¬ 
couraged  the  congregation  which  called  Rev.  J.  M.  Thompson  June 
11,  1894.  and  he  served  the  congregation  for  two  years. 

A  better  feeling  having  developed  between  the  mother  church  and 
the  daughter  at  Gallery  Junction,  a  desire  to  be  reunited  under  one 
pastor  prevailed.  Rev.  Henry  E:.  Snyder  was  installed  May  10,  1897. 

A  third  exodus  from  the  mother  church  occurred  in  1916.  This 
unfortunate  division  resulted  from  Rev.  Snyder’s  preaching  in  the 
homes  of  some  of  his  loyal  adherents  and  baptizing  some  children  after 
Presbytery  had  terminated  the  pastorate.  Some  persons  became  highly 
incensed  at  this  action  of  Presbytery  and  showed  their  displeasure  by 
withdrawing  without  seeking  regular  dismission.  About  thirty  persons 
withdrew  and  cast  their  lot  with  the  Hope  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
which  was  organized  in  spite  of  the  earnest  protest  of  the  Presbytery. 
Not  only  was  the  mother  church  weakened,  but  a  small  congregation 
of  another  denomination  was  established  in  its  bounds  with  little  pros¬ 
pect  of  growth. 

HOUSES  OF  WORSHIP 

The  congregation  worshiped  for  some  years  in  a  log  tent.  Between 
1820  and  1824  a  log  building  was  erected  on  a  plot  of  ground  donated 
by  Benjamin  Davis.  In  1839  a  brick  church  was  built  beside  the  old 
log  church.  The  brick  building  was  torn  down  in  May,  1878,  and  the 
present  frame  building  was  dedicated  November  3,  1879.  Rev.  W  illiam 
El.  Jeffers,  D.  D.,  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  preached  the 
sermon  upon  this  occasion. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Reid  Bracken,  1808-1819;  Rev.  John  Moore,  1828-1831; 
Rev.  Leland  R.  McAboy,  1838-1853;  Rev,.  Newton  Bracken,  1859- 
1860;  Rev.  John  W.  Potter,  1863-1866;  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Kerr,  1868- 
1869;  Rev.  Levi  Risher,  1870-1876;  Rev.  Robert  J.  Creswell,  1877- 
1879;  Rev.  James  M.  Thompson,  1894-1896;  Rev.  Henry  E.  Snyder, 
1897-1900;  Rev.  John  Waite,  1902-1907;  Rev.  Plummer  R.  Harvey, 
1908-1913;  Rev.  J.  Harris  Moore,  1914-1915;  Rev.  Hugh  S.  Shaw, 
1916-1919;  Rev.  W.  Lamont  McMillan,  1920-. 

ELDERS 

James  McClelland,  John  Crawford,  William  Critchlow,  John 
Emmet,  Morris  Covert,  Benjamin  Garvin,  William  Graham,  Sen., 


107 


Andrew  Boggs,  James  W.  Garvin,  William  Vandivort,  Thomas  W. 
Boggs,  John  Graham,  Josiah  Covert,  James  Thompson,  Robert  A. 
White,  James  Sutton,  John  Goehring,  J.  Milton  Covert,  O.  Palmer 
Graham,  Matthew  Graham  and  Christian  Hoehn. 

Present  Session :  Audley  M.  Covert,  William  Owens,  Edwin  Ram¬ 
sey,  William  Vandivort,  Stewart  R.  Croft  and  Louis  Goubeaud. 

HARRISVILLE 

The  Harrisville  Church  bor£  several  names  in  the  old  records  of 
Presbytery  such  as  Big  Spring,  Rocky  Spring,  Unity  and  West  Unity 
and  its  present  name.  The  original  place  of  meeting  was  at  the  Big 
Spring,  three  miles  east  of  Harrisville  and  one  mile  north  of  West 
Unity  United  Presbyterian  Church.  When  the  congregation  was 
gathered  and  by  whom  is  unknown.  Mr.  Robert  Lee  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  October  22,  1800,  and  “after  traveling  through 
the  vacancies  as  a  missionary  he  accepted  calls  from  the  congregations 
of  Amity  and  Big  Spring,  to  become  their  pastor  and  was  ordained  and 
installed  on  the  26th  day  of  June,  1801’’  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 

The  field  was  large  and  the  pastor’s  support  was  limited  even  for 
pioneer  days.  I  he  hardships  and  difficulties  were  many  for  besides 
Amity  and  Big  Spring  there  was  a  preaching  point  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  Big  Spring  congregation  at  Donaldson’s  Mill  on  the  Mead- 
ville  and  Kittanning  Road.  Owing  to  ill  health  Rev.  Lee  was  released 
July  14,  1807,  but  continued  to  supply  the  church  frequently  for  a 
number  of  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1812  Rev.  Samuel  Tait  was  holding  a  Com¬ 
munion  service  and  as  they  were 
sitting  at  the  table  the  strains  of 
martial  music  fell  upon  their 
ears  and  thrilled  the  congrega¬ 
tion,  for  volunteers  were  march¬ 
ing  to  the  front  at  Erie. 

Before  the  second  pastor, 
Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs,  came  in 
1814,  Big  Spring  and  the  group 
at  Donaldson’s  Mill  combined 
and  adopted  the  name  Unity. 
The  location  was  moved  to  that 
of  the  present  West  Unity 
United  Presbyterian  Church. 
During  this  pastorate  Unity  was 
connected  with  Scrubgrass 
Church.  This  church  has  suffer- 


108 


ed  from  numerous  internal  troubles.  “During  his  ministry  as  Scrubgrass 
and  Unity  Rev.  Riggs  passed  through  the  transition  from  the  Psalms  of 
Rouse  to  Psalms  and  I  lymns  of  Watts.  I  le  was  anxious  for  a  wider 
range  of  subjects  than  was  found  in  the  former  and  for  the  rich,  evan¬ 
gelistic  strains  found  in  the  latter.”  At  Unity  a  compromise  was  effect¬ 
ed  bv  agreeing  that  the  first  Psalm  of  the  Sabbath  service  should  be 
from  Rouse  and  the  rest  from  Watts.  “The  first  Sabbath  the  new  ar¬ 
rangement  was  to  begin  Rev.  Riggs  either  inadvertently  or  to  express 
his  disapproval  began  to  read  a  Watts  Psalm,  when  the  tall,  rugged 
form  of  Henry  Thompson  straightened  up  and  he  shouted  in  no  un¬ 
certain  tones,  ‘Quit  that,  quit  that  or  I’ll  fetch  you  doon  by  the  neck.’ 
The  congregation  became  greatly  excited.  The  Elders  interfered  and 
sought  to  pacify  the  irate  remonstrator,  but  he  took  his  hat,  walked 
out  and  never  returned.”  In  1827  Rev.  Riggs  is  reported  pastor  of 
Scrubgrass  alone,  showing  that  he  had  been  released  from  Unity. 

The  congregation  had  supplies  for  three  or  four  years  when  Rev. 
Joseph  Johnston  recently  from  Ireland  and  whose  papers  were  deficient, 
applied  for  admission  into  the  Presbytery  in  1832,  but  was  not  accepted. 
In  June,  1833,  the  churches  of  Ebenezer  (Parker),  Bear  Creek  and 
United  asked  that  Rev.  Johnston  might  supply  them.  This  petition 
was  refused.  They  asked  again  in  September  with  the  further  request 
that  Presbytery  take  steps  to  have  calls  issued  for  Rev.  Johnston.  This 
request  was  refused  and  the  following  reasons  assigned  for  this  action: 
“1st,  because  Mr.  Johnston  received  members  without  an  examina¬ 
tion  and  Unity  was  divided.  A  majority  of  the  members  favoring 
mission  of  Presbytery.  3rd,  his  having  publicly  charged  members  of 
Presbytery  with  lying.  Much  excitement  prevailed  in  these  congrega¬ 
tions  and  United  was  divided.  A  majority  of  the  members  favoring 
Rev.  Johnston  declared  themselves  independent  of  Presbytery  and  to¬ 
gether  with  Rev.  Johnston  were  received  into  the  Presbytery  of... . . . 

. of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  on  May  28, 

1834,  at  Mercer,  Pa.  The  West  Unity  United  Presbyterian  Church 
is  the  successor  of  this  part  of  the  congregation.  Much  difficulty  arose 
in  regard  to  the  property  but  those  loyal  to  the  Presbytery  finally 
withdrew  and  located  at  Harrisville,  and  its  name  was  changed  to 
correspond  to  the  village  April  3,  1837. 

CHURCH  BUILDINGS 

The  “Tent”  was  built  against  a  large  rock  near  the  Big  Spring  with 
an  opening  of  ten  or  twelve  feet.  It  was  only  a  rude  shelter.  In  1802 
a  round.log  church  was  raised.  It  was  covered  with  clap-boards  held 
in  place  by  poles  as  weights,  and  had  no  floor,  and  only  openings  for 
windows  and  door.  Logs  were  used  for  seats  and  a  puncheon  resting 
upon  two  posts  served  as  a  pulpit.  The  next  building  of  round  logs  on 


109 


the  present  site  of  West  United  Presbyterian  Church  was  erect¬ 
ed.  It  also  had  a  clap-board  roof  and  a  large  stone  fireplace  in 
the  chimney  at  the  rear,  using  large  logs  of  wood.  A  frame  house  was 
begun  in  1825  but  was  not  finished  for  several  years.  It  was  consid¬ 
ered  a  very  substantial  building  in  its  time.  Its  seats  were  not  built 
for  ease  or  comfort  but  were  rough  benches  and  boards. 

After  the  division  and  the  removal  to  Harrisville  a  church  was 
erected  in  1836  by  John  Daugherty,  Sr.,  and  Washington  P.  Allen  at 
a  cost  of  $1700.  It  was  a  frame  structure  forty  by  forty-five  feet  and 
sixteen  feet  to  the  ceiling,  plastered  and  painted.  It  had  two  doors  in 
front  with  aisles  running  to  a  cross  aisle  before  the  pulpit.  Seats  were 
auctioned  annually  to  the  highest  bidder  and  was  the  chief  method  of 
securing  the  pastor’s  salary,  but  if  there  was  a  deficiency  a  subscription 
paper  secured  the  remainder.  The  present  commodious  building  was 
erected  in  1889  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  A  Manse  was  built  in  1910  for 
$3,500. 

No  roll  of  members  for  the  first  thirty-five  years  has  been  pre¬ 
served.  When  Rev.  John  R.  Agnew  became  pastor  in  1839  the  church 
had  thirty-nine  members  on  its  roll.  The  church  experienced  vigor¬ 
ous  revival  seasons  in  1867  and  1868  and  1873  and  again  in  1877. 

The  church  has  had  many  internal  difficulties  but  has  eventually 
risen  in  greater  strength  and  is  flourishing  under  the  care  of  Rev. 
William  J.  Snyder. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Robert  Lee,  1801-1807;  Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs,  1814-1827;  Rev. 
John  R.  Agnew,  1839-1845;  Rev.  John  Moore,  1847-1849;  Rev.  Mead 
Satterfield,  1851-1855;  Rev.  J.  Fulton  Boyd,  1856-1866;  Rev.  William 
D.  Patton,  1866-1877;  Rev.  John  W.  Fulton,  1881-1882;  Rev.  Henry 
G.  Blayney,  1889-1896;  Lie.  J.  Gray  Rose,  1897;  Rev.  Zechariah  B.  Tay¬ 
lor,  1898-1903;  Rev.  Harry  E.  Kaufman,  1904-1909;  Rev.  Sylvester 
W.  Young,  Ph.  D.,  1909-1915;  Rev.  William  C.  Barnes,  1917-1919; 
Rev.  William  J.  Snyder,  1920-. 

ELDERS 

Hugh  Lee,  Ephraim  Harris,  Jonathan  Adams,  Samuel  Porter,  John 
Vandyke,  William  Agnew,  Richard  Vandyke,  Sen.,  James  Waddel, 
Thomas  Mifflin,  James  Elarris,  Washington  P.  Allen,  Richard  Van¬ 
dyke,  Jun.,  James  Forquer,  Robert  Vandyke,  James  Adams,  W.  H.  Har¬ 
rison  McCoy,  Lion.  J.  R.  Harris,  J.  Woods  Anderson,  J.  P.  McCoy, 
Samuel  Leason,  John  Porter,  Wiliam  P.  Braham,  R.  Kerr  Wick,  Clark 
Patterson,  John  Snyder,  Henry  Thompson,  J.  B.  Magee,  Homer  Pat¬ 
terson  and  John  P.  Orr. 

Present  Session:  Joseph  Blakely,  William  M.  Cochran,  Charles 
Bovard,  John  Aiken,  Perry  A.  Shannon,  James  B.  Speer  and  John  Van¬ 
dyke. 


110 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  BUTLER 


The  earliest  historical  reference  to  the  beginning  of  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  in  Butler  is  in  the  records  of  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 
On  April  10,  1798,  two  years  before  Butler  County  was  erected  and 
five  years  before  the  site  of  Butler  was  surveyed,  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Pherrin  was  appointed  to  preach  “at  Thorn’s  Tent  ye  4th  Sab.  of  Au¬ 
gust.”  This  appointment  was  filled  and  implies  that  Thorn’s  Tent  was 
an  established  preaching  center.  The  “tent”  was  located  on  the  south¬ 
ern  part  of  the  Robert 
Thorn  farm  to  the  south¬ 
west  of  North  Butler  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church  and  not 
far  from  the  present  Butler 
and  Chicora  road.  By 
1803  the  place  of  preaching 
had  been  moved  west  to  the 
Salt  Springs  on  the  farm  of 
William  Earns.  Later  this 
station  was  consolidated 
with  another  southeast  of 
Muddy  Creek  Church  and 
took  the  name  of  Harmony 
from  the  spirit  that  led  to 
the  union.  The  new  center 
of  worship  was  about  five 
miles  north  of  Butler  and 
was  doubtless  effected  by 
Rev.  John  McPherrin,  who 
organized  and  became  the 
the  first  pastor  of  Concord. 
Muddy  Creek  and  Har¬ 
mony  Churches  after  Oc¬ 
tober  4,  1805.  Two  years  later  the  combined  membership  of 
the  three  churches  was  fifty-two.  The  organization  of  Harmony  so 
weakened  Muddy  Creek  Church  that  Rev.  McPherrin  is  reported  as 
pastor  of  Concord  and  Harmony.  Dr.  Loyal  Young  states  that  preach¬ 
ing  services  were  held  in  the  town  of  Butler  in  1805  by  Rev.  McPherrin 
and  no  doubt  this  pioneer  minister  held  religious  services  there  as 
often  as  the  work  of  his  large  parish  permitted. 

In  1812  Rev.  McPherrin  is  reported  to  Synod  as  “without  charge’’ 
and  the  diary  of  William  Dickson  supplies  the  reason  which  is  quoted 
in  Dr.  Eaton’s  History  of  Erie  Presbytery:  “In  the  spring  of  1812 
Rev.  McPherrin  was  invited  to  preach  in  Erie  County.  He  accepted  a 
call  from  North  East  and  Middlebrook  Churches.  Because  war  was 


declared  in  that  year  and  we  were  on  the  frontier  he  returned  to  his 
former  charge  in  Butler  County.”  For  some  months  after  his  return 
Rev.  McPherrin  supplied  Concord  and  Harmony  Churches.  How  well 
he  succeeded  in  Butler  in  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  Harmony  con¬ 
gregation  and  some  of  the  Elders  and  members  of  the  disorganized  work 
at  Muddy  Creek  identified  themselves  with  the  work  in  Butler.  There 
is  no  record  of  the  organization  of  the  Butler  congregation  but  it  must 
have  been  effected  some  time  before  the  installation  of  Rev.  McPherrin 
as  pastor  April  7,  1813.  The  first  Elders  were  Robert  Graham,  Alex¬ 
ander  Hamilton  and  William  Neyman.  Rev.  McPherrin  devoted 
three-fourths  of  his  service  to  Butler  and  one-fourth  to  Concord,  indi¬ 
cating  his  faith  in  the  future  of  the  church  and  the  town.  The  preach¬ 
ing  services  were  held  in  the  court  house  until  a  small  stone  structure 
was  completed  on  the  present  property  of  the  church  in  1815. 

T  he  records  of  the  first  twenty  years  appear  to  be  lost  and  this  is 
not  surprising  when  it  is  recalled  that  Presbytery  did  not  require 
Sessions  to  keep  their  records  in  books  selected  for  that  purpose  until 
1836.  Rev.  Loyal  Young  became  pastor  in  1833.  The  Sessional 
record  first  used  by  Rev.  Young  was  destroyed  when  his  house  burned, 
but  faithful  records  have  been  preserved  since  1840  and  what  is  known 
of  the  previous  history  of  the  church  is  due  largely  to  this  faithful 
minister  who  began  his  long  pastorate  with  one  hundred  five  members. 

A  careful  and  sympathetic  study  of  the  Sessional  records  presents 
a  cross  section  of  the  religious  ideals,  life  and  efforts  of  a  sturdy  and 
zealous  people.  This  church  experienced  similar  hardships,  difficulties 
and  trials  as  did  the  early  rural  churches.  Human  nature  was  as  real 
in  the  household  of  faith  as  in  the  homes  but  the  consecrated  Session 
dealt  kindly  yet  firmly  with  those  ills  which  have  vexed  and  afflicted 
the  church  ever  since  the  Master  committed  the  Kingdom  to  His  chosen 
disciples.  Fidelity  to  Christ  and  His  Gospel  enabled  the  church  to  rise 
triumphant  in  due  time  over  all  her  difficulties,  internal  and  external, 
and  grow  steadily  in  grace  and  power  and  in  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  the  community.  The  best  proof  of  the  presence  of  Christ  in  His 
church  is  that  men  and  women  can  give  a  reason  for  the  hope  actuating 
their  lives  and  in  whom  the  graces  and  virtues  that  are  the  chief  glory 
of  mankind  are  exemplified.  Christ’s  power  is  further  demonstrated  in 
the  loyalty  and  fidelity  of  the  membership  as  a  whole  to  the  ideals, 
services  and  missionary  duties  of  the  church  purchased  by  His  precious 
blood.  The  witness  and  steadfast  loyalty  of  the  congregation  has  been 
keenly  felt  in  all  lines  of  social,  public  and  religious  betterment.  Some 
of  these  special  interests  may  be  noted.  The  second  pastor,  Rev.  John 
Coulter,  organized  the  first  Temperance  Society  in  the  county  and 
thoroughly  indoctrinated  his  congregation  in  these  principles  and  the 
Session  has  heartily  supported  the  ideals  and  deliverances  of  the 


112 


General  Assembly  on  this  burning  public  question  at  all  times.  Their 
courage  and  fidelity  is  amply  vindicated  in  the  records  and  in  the 
efforts  before  the  Court. 

Largely  due  to  the  interest  and  financial  help  of  the  Butler  con¬ 
gregation  and  its  third  pastor,  Rev.  Loyal  Young,  the  Witherspoon 
Institute  opened  its  doors  in  May,  1850,  with  the  pastor  as  Principal. 
For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  Witherspoon  Institute  was  a 
vigorous  center  of  education,  moral  and  religious  power  under  Pres- 
byterial  supervision  and  led  by  ministers  of  ability  and  deep  religious 
convictions.  As  a  number  of  students  became  ministers  the  special 
interest  of  the  congregation  in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  has 
continued  until  the  present.  Elder  W.  D.  Brandon  writes  that 
“Rev.  W.  T.  Wylie,  pastor  from  June.  1879,  to  December,  1881, 
revolutionized  the  finances  of  the  church  and  largely  stimulated  the 
grace  of  Christian  giving.  Idle  old  way  of  dropping  into  the  basket 
what  loose  money  one  might  happen  to  have  gave  place  to  a  plan  of 
systematic  giving.  Under  his  guidance  a  budget  system  was  introduced 
and  with  it  duplicate  pledges  were  asked  and  expected  of  every  member 
and  adherent.  Emphasis  was  laid  on  the  importance  of  having  chil¬ 
dren  educated  and  enrolled  as  regular  givers.  The  plan  was  based 
upon  a  per  diem  pledge  and  twenty-four  envelopes  were  furnished  to 
each  one,  twelve  for  local  support  and  twelve  for  benevolences.  During 
his  pastorate  he  edited  and  published  a  paper  called  the  Christian 
Giver,  which  attained  a  large  circulation  throughout  the  Church.  Its 
purpose  was  to  emphasize  the  importance  of  systematic  giving,  in 
which  he  advocated  a  plan  called  the  Bellefonte  System.  It  was  pro¬ 
ductive  of  much  good.  He  was  the  pioneer  in  this  work  in  the  church 
at  large  and  although  distasteful  to  many,  as  money  appeals  usually 
become,  his  work  in  this  respect  bore  rich  fruit,  not  only  in  the  First 
Church  of  Butler  and  in  Butler  Presbytery  and  the  church  at  large 
is  reaping  today  the  fruits  of  his  labors.” 

The  church  has  contributed  members  and  moral  and  financial 
assistance  to  North  Butler,  Summit,  L’nionville  and  East  Butler  Pres¬ 
byterian  Churches  besides  dismissing  one  hundred  sixty-two  members 
to  aid  in  the  formation  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Butler  in 
1897.  With  equal  interest  the  congregation  conducted  a  work  among 
the  Belgian  and  French  families  employed  in  the  Plate  Glass  Works 
and  later  has  loyally  supported  the  work  in  Lyndora  for  foreigners. 

In  1913  the  congregation  observed  the  Centennial  of  its  origin 
with  appropriate  services.  An  excellent  historical  paper  was  prepared 
and  read  by  the  senior  Elder.  Mr.  Washington  D.  Brandon  and  to  this 
paper  all  enquirers  are  referred  for  the  life  and  details  of  the  church. 
Again  in  April,  1920,  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  organiza¬ 
tion  of  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny  was  celebrated,  for  in  this  church 


113 


the  organization  was  effected  and  its  pastor,  Rev.  John  McPherrin, 
preached  the  sermon  on  that  important  occasion. 

Under  its  recent  pastor,  Rev.  William  R.  Craig,  D.  D.,  the  Every 
Member  Canvass  was  stressed  and  the  congregation  rejoiced  in  the 
large  increase  of  funds  for  all  purposes.  May  the  Psalmist’s  words  be 
verified  in  this  congregation,  “The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm 
tree,  he  shall  grow  like  the  cedar  of  Lebanon.  Those  that  he  planted 
in  the  house  of  the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God.  They 
shall  bring  forth  fruit  in  their  old  age;  they  shall  be  fat  and  flourishing 
to  show  that  the  Lord  is  upright.” 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  John  McPherrin,  1813-1823;  Rev.  John  Coulter,  1823-1833; 
Rev.  Loyal  Young,  D.  D.,  1833-1869;  Rev.  William  I.  Brugh,  1869- 
1871;  Rev.  Charles  H.  McClellan,  1872-1878;  Rev.  William  T.  Wylie, 
1879-1881;  Rev.  William  E.  Oiler,  D.  D.,  1882-1909;  Rev.  William  R. 
Craig,  D.  D„  1910-1922;  Rev.  S.  Wilmer  Beitler,  1923-. 

ELDERS 

Alexander  Hamilton,  Robert  Graham,  William  Neyman,  James 
McCurdy,  Malachi  Richardson,  John  Neyman,  Robert  Wallace,  David 
Mcjunkin,  Robert  Thorn,  Jonathan  Plummer,  William  Mcjunkin, 
lion.  Walter  Lowrie,  David  Mcllvain,  Thomas  Welsh,  H.  N.  Boyd, 
William  Campbell,  William  Maxwell,  William  S.  Boyd,  James  Mitch¬ 
ell,  Thomas  H.  Bracken,  Robert  McCurdy,  Samuel  Martin,  George 
A.  Black,  James  D.  Anderson,  James  H.  Stephenson,  John  C.  Redick, 
Washington  D.  Brandon,  Alfred  Wick,  J.  Prank  Anderson,  David  L. 
Cleeland,  Charles  N.  Boyd,  Robert  M.  Anderson,  Robert  A.  White, 
Thomas  B.  Stevenson.  Porter  W.  Lowry,  Oliver  Thompson,  Loyal  P. 
Hall,  Gardner  C.  Lowry,  Edward  W.  Humphrey,  Prank  H.  Walker, 
William  J.  Moser,  Harry  V.  Hopkins,  James  V.  Lamberton,  J.  Campbell 
Brandon,  Lloyd  A.  Beatty  and  Chester  E.  Shirk. 

PARKER  CITY 

The  date  of  the  organization  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Parker's  Landing  is  not  definitely  known,  but  certainly  not  later  than 
the  autumn  of  1819.  It  bears  three  names  on  the  records  of  Presby¬ 
tery,  Ebenezer,  Lawrenceburg  and  Parker  City.  The  original  settlers 
of  this  section  were  hardy  Scotch  and  Scotch-Irish  who  pressed  north¬ 
ward  on  the  west  side  of  the  Allegheny  River  in  the  last  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  The  Bible,  Psalm  Book  and  the  Catechism  were 
the  primary  sources  of  their  comfort  and  aspirations.  Pamilies  wor¬ 
shiped  either  in  Scrubgrass  or  Bear  Creek  Churches,  whose  first  pastor, 
Rev.  Robert  Johnson,  was  ordained  and  installed  in  October,  1803. 


lit 


In  the  winter  following  the 
Scrubgrass  congregation  ex¬ 
perienced  a  religious  reviv¬ 
al  in  which  more  than  one 
hundred  persons  were  hope¬ 
fully  converted.  The  influ¬ 
ence  of  this  revival  spread 
toward  Bear  Creek  Church 
and  tradition  says  that  Rev. 
Johnson  preached  frequent¬ 
ly  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
present  city  of  Parker,  in 
passing  to  Bear  Creek 
Church.  It  is  certain  that  Rev.  Johnson’s  successor,  Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs, 
preached  in  the  homes  in  the  vicinity  of  Parker  once  a  month  until 
Ebenezer  congregation  was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1819  and  until 
Rev.  Alexander  Cook  became  the  pastor  of  Bear  Creek  and  Ebenezer 
Churches  June  26,  1821. 

The  membership  must  have  been  quite  small  at  first  and  their 
names  are  not  recorded.  It  was  common  in  those  days  to  report  the 
members  of  the  pastoral  charges  instead  of  the  numbers  in  each  church 
and  in  1822  Presbytery  reported  to  Synod  sixty-four  communicants  for 
the  Bear  Creek  and  Ebenezer  Churches,  of  whom  thirty-one  were 
“added  last  year.”  This  would  leave  the  membership  of  the  churches 
at  thirty-three  when  Rev.  Cook  became  pastor.  In  the  same  report 
two  adults  were  baptized  and  sixty-two  infants.  Located  between  two 
older  and  stronger  churches  and  with  a  circumscribed  parish  the  church 
growth  depended  almost  wholly  upon  new  families  and  the  natural 
increase  of  population.  The  growth  was  slow  and  the  support  of  the 
pastor  difficult.  After  a  pastorate  of  five  years  Rev.  Cook  was  released 
and  the  church  remained  vacant  for  almost  five  years  at  a  time  when 
it  needed  special  pastoral  care. 

In  1833  Bear  Creek,  Ebenezer  and  Unity  Churches  asked  Presby¬ 
tery  to  appoint  Rev.  Joseph  Johnston  as  their  supply  until  the  next 
meeting.  Rev.  Johnston  was  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Richmond, 
Province  of  New  Brunswick,  and  had  been  granted  the  privilege  of 
supplying  some  churches  in  the  preceding  months.  T  his  request  was 
granted  but  when  the  same  churches  renewed  their  request,  Presbytery, 
owing  to  some  irregularities  in  his  credentials,  refused  to  receive  him  as 
a  member  of  Presbytery  and  also  refused  their  request.  Again  in 
September  24,  1833,  the  same  churches  asked  Presbytery  to  appoint 
Rev.  Johnston  as  Stated  Supply  and  to  take  steps  to  moderate  a  call 
for  Rev.  Johnston  and  install  him  as  pastor.  The  request  was  denied 
and  the  reasons  were  assigned  by  Presbytery.  This  action  highly  in- 


115 


censed  many  in  these  congregations  who  were  ardent  supporters  of 
Rev.  Johnston  and  the  final  result  was  the  division  of  Unity  and  Eben- 
ezer  Churches.  I  lis  adherents  in  Unity  and  Ebenezer  together  with 
all  of  Bear  Creek  except  five  families  were  received  into  the  Associate 
Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  at  Mercer  May  28,  1834.  Those  who 
remained  loyal  to  the  Presbytery  were  reduced  not  only  in  numbers 
but  were  also  confronted  by  a  competing  organization  and  a  jealous 
atmosphere.  So  nearly  fatal  was  this  trouble  to  the  mother  church 
that  it  presented  a  petition  asking  Presbytery  to  disorganize  the 
church,  but  with  assistance  and  encouragement  from  the  Presbytery 
the  congregation  took  courage  and  gradually  increased  in  number  and 
zeal  until  it  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Kittanning  July  7, 
1870,  by  the  union  of  the  Old  School  and  the  New  School  Churches. 
It  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Butler  by  Synod  in  1807  for 
convenience  in  attending  the  meetings  of  Presbytery. 

CHURCH  BUILDINGS 

The  congregation  has  erected  three  houses  of  worship.  The  first 
was  “a  brick  structure  fifty  feet  wide  and  sixty  feet  long,  one  story 
high,  steep  roof  and  arched  ceiling.”  The  high  pulpit  occupied  a  recess 
at  one  end  and  was  reached  by  five  or  six  steps.  This  building  was 
erected  in  1822,  but  was  not  plastered  for  about  fifteen  years.  Later 
the  building  was  used  for  school  purposes.  In  1867  the  brick  building 
was  removed  and  a  frame  building  fifty-five  by  forty-five  feet  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,200.  In  1876  during  the  oil  development  which 
centered  at  Parker  the  interior  of  the  church  was  refurnished  at  a  cost 
of  $3500  and  in  1888  a  belfry  was  added  at  a  cost,  with  other  charges, 
of  $1400.  The  present  beautiful  and  commodious  building  faced  with 
white  sandstone  was  dedicated  January  27,  1907,  under  the  leadership 
of  Rev.  George  B.  Robinson  at  a  cost  of  $17000.  In  1917  a  splendid 
pipe  organ  was  placed  in  the  church  by  Mr.  Harry  Parker  as  a  memorial 
to  his  mother,  Margaret  Phipps  Parker,  and  in  1921  a  new  modern 
manse  was  erected.  The  church  is  well  equipped  for  effective  work 
under  the  spiritual  guidance  of  Rev.  James  M.  Briceland. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Alexander  Cook  1821-1827;  Rev.  John  R.  Agnew,  S.  S., 
1838-1839;  Rev.  Lewis  Conrad,  S.  S.,  1845-1846;  Lie.  John  K.  Cornyn, 
1846-1847;  Rev.  Ebenezer  Henry,  1847-1856;  Rev.  John  V.  Miller, 
1857-1858;  Rev.  James  Coulter,  1860-1869;  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Hughes, 
1870-1877;  Rev.  John  N.  McGonnigle,  1878-1880;  Rev.  Houston  W. 
Lowry,  1881-1885;  Rev.  Clark  B.  Gillette,  1885-1886;  Rev.  J.  Walker 
Miller.  1 887- 1 89- ;  Rev.  James  A.  Cunningham,  1899-1902;  Rev.  George 
B.  Robinson,  1903-1909;  Rev.  Paul  J.  Slonaker,  1910-1913;  Rev.  Max¬ 
well  Cornelius,  1914-1916;  Rev.  James  M.  Briceland,  191 7-. 


116 


ELDERS 


William  Redick,  Gideon  Gibson,  James  Turner,  Robert  Allen, 
David  Hutchison,  John  Allen,  John  C.  Gibson,  John  L.  Gibson,  William 
Thompson,  John  M.  Turner,  John  Martin,  William  H.  Redick,  Robert 
Jamison,  Hamilton  H.  Say,  James  A.  Morgan.  Joseph  Eggert,  Thomas 
Shaw,  J.  T.  Cooper,  S.  E.  Critchlow,  S.  H.  Manifold,  W.  G.  Moore, 
Thomas  H.  Evans,  R.  T.  Mahaffey,  James  G.  Anders  and  John  C. 
Redick. 

The  Rotary  System  of  Elders  was  adopted  in  1874  and  the  follow¬ 
ing  Elders  served  the  congregation:  John  M.  Turner,  John  Martin, 
William  H.  Redick,  Robert  Jamison,  Hamilton  EE  Say,  Joseph  Eggert, 
J.  T.  Cooper.  S.  H.  Manifold,  W.  G.  Moore,  Thomas  G.  Evans,  R.  T. 
Mahaffey,  James  G.  Anderson,  John  C.  Redick,  William  J.  Speer, 
Fergus  M.  Shira,  Henry  Turk,  Robert  Pollock,  Isaac  Hilliard,  James 
A.  Billingsly  and  Thomas  A.  Kerr. 

Since  the  return  to  the  permanent  Eldership,  March  14,  1900, 
the  church  has  had  the  following  Elders:  William  J.  Speer,  Fergus 
M.  Shira,  Hamilton  H.  Say,  Henry  Turk,  Robert  Pollock,  Isaac  Hil¬ 
liard,  James  Billingsly,  Thomas  A.  Kerr,  who  served  under  the  Rotary 
System,  besides  C.  Watson  Wick,  Edward  H.  Schenck,  Charles  E.  Say, 
John  B.  Bell,  James  S.  Brothers,  Evan  C.  Griffith  and  Charles  A.  Mc- 
Xaughton  . 

PORTERSVILLE 

The  first  white  settler  in  what  is  now  Muddy  Creek  Township  was 
a  Presbyterian,  named  Robert  Stewart.  He  came  from  Westmoreland 
County  in  1796  and  located  on  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  on  which 
the  town  of  Portersville  is  located.  This  land  was  purchased  for 
thirty-three  cents  an  acre  and  was  a  part  of  the  “Eight  Tracts,”  an  un¬ 
surveyed  part  of  “depreciation  land”  reserved  by  the  state  and  sold 
to  redeem  the  script  paid  to  the  soldiers  who  had  served  in  the  Revolu¬ 
tionary  War.  Mr.  Stewart’s  nearest  neighbor  was  fifteen  miles  distant 
through  a  heavily  wooded  region.  Other  settlers  came  in  gradually 
and  the  strong  social  instinct  led  the  pioneer  families  to  locate  near  the 
original  settler.  The  nucleus  of  many  villages  originated  from  this 
social  instinct.  The  new  arrivals  were  largely  of  Reformed  Presby¬ 
terian  and  Associate  Presbyterian  stock.  The  Presbyterian  families 
were  few  and  widely  scattered.  Rev.  Reed  Bracken,  the  first  pastor 
of  Plains  and  Mount  Xebo  Churches,  possessed  a  genuine  missionary 
spirit  and  felt  a  keen  interest  in  and  responsibility  for  small  isolated 
settlements  on  the  western  borders  of  his  parish.  Prior  to  1814  Rev. 
Bracken  preached  occasionally  in  homes  of  Presbyterian  families  in  the 
village  and  neighborhood.  When  Thompson  McCosh,  a  cabinet 
maker  by  trade,  built  his  shop  in  1814  it  became  at  once  the  place  for 


religious  services.  Rev.  Robert  B.  Walker,  D.  D.,  a  son  of  tne  congre¬ 
gation  though  never  a  member  of  Portersville  Church,  has  left  the 
following  record  of  one  of  the  early  services  when  he  was  six  or  seven 
years  old:  “The  first  preaching  1  ever  attended  and  the  first  sermon  I 
ever  heard  was  in  the  cabinet  shop  of  Mr.  Thompson  McCosh.  This 
was  at  the  close  of  1814  or  in  1815.  The  Rev.  Reed  Bracken  was  the 
preacher.  He  was  mostly  the  supply  on  these  occasions.  1  remember 
nothing  of  his  sermon  but  I  have  not  forgotten  his  son,  William, 
then  a  little  boy,  folded  his  hands  and  stood  erect  and  perfectly  still 
during  the  prayer.”  It  was  Rev.  Reed  Bracken  who  gathered  the  con¬ 
gregation  into  a  church  on  October  13,  1820,  and  was  its  Stated  Supply 
for  twenty-two  years.  He  ceased  his  relations  with  this  church,  dear 
to  him,  as  the  apple  of  his  eye,  when  he  felt  the  infirmities  of  age  ap¬ 
proaching  and  when  the  pastoral  care  of  Mount  Nebo  was  already  too 


heavy  for  his  years  and  strength.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Newton 
Bracken  as  the  first  pastor  and  this  is  the  only  instance  in  the  history 
of  Allegheny  and  Butler  Presbyteries  where  a  son  was  the  immediate 
successor  of  the  father  as  a  minister. 

The  original  members,  four  men  and  eight  women,  were  John  and 
Sarah  Walker,  Robert  and  Margaret  Stewart  and  Nancy  Stewart, 
Ephriam  and  Martha  Hunter,  Thompson  and  Nancy  McCosh,  Eliza¬ 
beth  Stewart  and  Barbara  Stewart.  John  Walker  and  Robert  Stewart 
were  the  first  Elders.  The  church  was  called  Eight  Tracts  and  bore 
this  name  until  April  3,  1834,  when  Presbytery  approved  the  name  of 
Portersville. 

The  growth  of  the  church  was  quite  slow,  depending  large¬ 
ly  upon  the  new  families  favoring  Presbyterian  principles  as  they 
came  into  the  community.  The  names  of  many  of  these  early  families 
are  still  upon  the  church  roll.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  lifetime  asso¬ 
ciation  with  one  church  is  becoming  a  thing  of  the  past.  To  be  born, 


118 


nurtured  and  to  serve  for  life  in  an  individual  church  and  to  be  trans¬ 
lated  from  it  to  the  Church  Triumphant  is  becoming  too  rare.  Life 
fellowship  with  a  church  develops  a  staunch  and  loyal  love  for  the 
church,  her  ways  and  ordinances  and  the  reaction  is  sturdy  yet  beauti¬ 
ful  faith  and  Christlike  character. 

Like  other  churches,  Portersville  Church  has  had  its  periods  of  de¬ 
pression  and  humiliation  when  the  zeal  of  its  worshipers  in  the  things  of 
Christ  and  the  sanctuary  waned  or  when  some  brother  or  sister  of  the 
church  sinned  grievously  and  brought  reproach  upon  the  name  that  is 
above  every  name  so  that  God  could  not  bestow  His  blessing.  When 
such  ones  came  back  to  the  church  penitent  and  in  godly  sorrow  as  did 
the  Prodigal  Son,  seasons  of  spiritual  interest  and  rejoicing  followed, 
attesting  God’s  readiness  to  bless  His  cleansed  church. 

This  church’s  true  honor  and  glory  is  found  in  its  ministry  to  the 
community.  The  lives  of  hundreds  who  confessed  Christ  within  her 
walls  have  amply  proved  the  genuineness  of  their  conversion  and  the 
power  of  the  gospel  truth.  Pier  achievements  are  not  earthly  attain¬ 
ments  and  honors  but  prayers  and  tears  of  penitential  sorrow  or  joy, 
fidelity  to  Christ  and  the  comfort  and  consolation  which  her  teaching 
gives  to  those  filled  with  an  unspeakable  sorrow  and  by  which  they 
have  calmly  and  with  full  hope  in  Christ  passed  down  the  Valley  of 
the  Shadow. 

Such  a  splendid  record  is  "worth  more  than  all  the  care  and  toil 
and  money  the  church  has  ever  cost."  When  her  young  men  who  have 
become  ministers  and  their  work  are  considered  or  when  the  roll  of  her 
missionaries  is  called  it  will  be  seen  how  highly  God  has  favored  this 

o  j 

church.  May  the  church  ever  be  inspired  by  this  dual  roll,  viz.: 
Ministers,  Robert  B.  Walker,  D.  D.,  Newton  Bracken,  Newton  B. 
Kelly,  James  M.  Kelly,  Robert  Bracken,  Theodore  Bracken,  Cyrus  H. 
Dunlap,  D.  D.,  Joseph  R.  Cheeseman,  Charles  P.  Cheeseman,  D.  D., 
Melvin  W.  Davis,  Herbert  0.  McDonald  and  George  LI.  Cheeseman. 
Also  John  and  Andrew  Anderson,  brothers,  became  ministers  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  the  family  from  which  Rev.  U.  S. 
Greves  sprang  were  members  of  this  church;  his  grandfather,  Peter 
Greves  was  an  Elder. 

Missionaries:  Rev.  Herbert  Stewart,  of  Siam;  Miss  Mary  Butter¬ 
field,  of  India;  Miss  Florence  Heberling,  Miss  Lenore  Morgan,  workers 
in  the  Bowery  Mission  in  New  York  City.  Besides  the  parents  of  Rev. 
John  A.  Eakin,  D.  D.,  Mrs.  Bella  Dodd  and  Miss  Lizzie  Eakin  were 
also  members  of  this  church. 

It  is  probable  that  the  first  church  building  was  reared  in  1824  on 
one-half  acre  of  ground  conveyed  by  deed  on  April  19,  1828,  from 
Robert  and  Margaret  Stewart  to  the  trustees  of  the  church  for  the 
sum  of  twenty  dollars.  It  was  a  small  frame  structure  and  enjoyed  the 


119 


distinction  of  being  the  earliest  frame  church  building  in  the  Presbytery 
of  Allegheny.  Ten  years  later  the  church  was  remodeled  and  ten  or 
twelve  feet  were  added  to  the  length  of  the  building.  In  1842  the 
present  brick  building  replaced  the  frame  structure.  Extensive  repairs 
have  been  made  from  time  to  time  and  recently  a  cupola  and  vestibule 
have  been  added.  It  is  now  warmed  by  a  heater  and  lighted  with  gas 
and  neatly  and  tastefully  equipped  for  the  activities  of  the  congrega¬ 
tion.  This  church  was  associated  from  1863  to  1888  with  Mount  Nebo 
and  with  Princeton  1891-1897. 

A  Union  Sabbath  School  was  organized  in  the  village  December 
23,  1823,  and  continued  until  1835  when  a  Sabbath  School  was  organ¬ 
ized  in  the  church.  The  wisdom  of  this  step  was  at  once  manifest  in 
increased  strength  and  loyalty  to  the  church.  The  school  has  been 
self-supporting  for  many  years  and  has  contributed  $100  annually  for 
years  to  the  salary  of  a  Sabbath  School  Missionary. 

The  Women’s  Missionary  Society  was  organized  in  1879  and  has 
been  a  very  important  factor  in  the  missionary  spirit  and  gifts  of  the 
church. 

The  church  observed  its  Centennial  in  connection  with  the  meet¬ 
ing  of  Presbytery  September  12-14,  1920.  Rev.  George  J.  Timblin 
has  the  unique  distinction  of  being  his  own  successor  as  pastor  of  this 
church. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Reed  Bracken,  S.  S.,  1820-1841;  Rev.  Newton  Bracken,  1841- 
1856;  Rev.  William  P.  Harvison,  1863-1867;  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Johnston, 
1870-1872;  Rev.  Robert  B.  Walker,  D.  D„  S.  S„  1872-1883;  Rev.  J. 
Walker  Miller,  1884-1888;  Rev.  John  E.  Eggert,  1891-1897;  Rev. 
Ulysses  L.  Montgomery,  1897-1900;  Rev.  George  J.  Timblin,  1901- 
1909;  Rev.  George  J.  Timblin,  1909-1911;  Rev.  Josiah  R.  Loughner, 
1912-1916;  Rev.  Adam  B.  Elliott,  1917-1921;  Rev.  Melzar  D.  Mc¬ 
Clelland,  Ph.  D.,  192 1-. 

ELDERS 

John  Walker,  Robert  Stewart,  Thompson  McCosh,  Alexander 
Morrison,  William  Cratty,  Robert  Craig,  Thomas  Cooper,  Joseph 
Eckles,  William  Carruthers,  Robert  Dunlap,  Samuel  Hanna,  John 
Cleeland,  John  W.  Stewart,  John  Cheeseman,  John  Boston,  James  Mor¬ 
rison,  John  Swick,  Thomas  Cratty,  Peter  Greves,  George  Oliver,  William 
Humphrey,  Guyon  Morrison,  Horatio  D.  Payne,  Samuel  Okeson  and 
Robert  H.  Oliver. 

Present  Session:  James  McConnell,  Edward  IT  Laderer,  Oliver 
D.  Myers,  John  B.  Cheeseman,  Charles  R.  Oliver,  S.  Aden  Bellas,  Ira 
W.  Watson  and  Erank  M.  Moore. 


120 


WESTMINSTER 


Many  of  the  original  families  of  the  southeastern  part  of  Butler 
county  were  of  Irish  extraction  as  the  names  Harvey,  Love,  Watson, 
Walker,  Moore,  Gibson,  Cunningham  and  Criswell  attest.  \\  hile  these 
and  other  pioneers  were  opening  up  their  farms  they  were  not  unmind¬ 
ful  of  their  early  training  in  spiritual  things.  Their  isolation  only 
intensified  their  desire  for  the  means  of  grace.  New  settlers  and  grow¬ 
ing  families  appealed  to  these  hardy  pioneers  to  secure  religious  instruc¬ 
tion  for  their  children  and  in  1832  a  group  of  pious  men  and  women 
met  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Robert  Love.  I  he  result  was  the  organization 
of  a  Sabbath  School  which  met  for  some  time  in  the  homes.  The 
Sabbath  School  soon  grew  too  large  for  homes  and  a  tent  was  provided 
which  no  doubt  was  the  product  of  the  skill  and  zeal  of  the  mothers 
of  the  community. 

“We  were  encouraged  in  our  attendance  by  the  ministerial  labor 
of  the  Rew  Mr.  Boyd,  who  preached  the  gospel  to  us  every  other  Sab¬ 
bath.  And  as  we  were  a  distance  from  any  place  of  public  worship 
we  thought  it  proper  to  petition  Presbytery  to  grant  us  the  privilege 
of  being  organized  into  a  congregation.  This  petition  being  granted 


(See  minutes  of  Presbytery  Dec.  4,  1833,  and  April  1,  1 834)  we  organ¬ 
ized  and  were  supplied  with  preaching  of  the  Gospel  one  year  by  Rev. 
Boyd.  Having  thus  prospered  into  a  congregation  we  desired  to  have 
Communion  together  in  the  sealing  ordinances  of  the  Church  where¬ 
upon  we  petitioned  Presbytery  to  be  organized  into  a  church.  So  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  grant  of  Presbytery  we  became  a  church.”  The  organ¬ 
ization  was  effected  June  12,  1835,  by  the  Rev.  Abraham  Bovd  and 
Rev.  Newton  Bracken,  who  had  been  appointed  to  this  duty,  April, 
1835.  The  church  was  named  Upper  Bull  Creek  and  consisted  of  the 
following  persons:  Hugh  and  Mary  Riddle,  James  and  Sarah  Boyd, 
William  M.  McGeary,  Henry  Flake,  Eliza  McGeary,  Giffrn  and  Sarah 
McGeary,  Elizabeth  Brewer,  Susan  Norris,  Robert  and  Mary  Thomp¬ 
son. 

James  Boyd  and  William  M.  McGeary  were  elected  Ruling  Elders 
by  the  new  organization  and  were  duly  ordained  and  installed.  James 
Boyd  was  made  Clerk  of  Session.  Worship  was  conducted  in  the  tent 
until  in  1838  when  a  log  building  was  erected  on  the  present  site,  the 
property  being  conveyed  “by  Robert  and  Sa.  ah  Love  calling  for  one 
acre  and  eighty  perches  at  the  price  of  $15.00  lawful  money.”  The 
log  church  was  erected  by  Matthew  and  Robert  Riddle,  who  were  the 
owners  of  the  first  sawmill  in  the  community.  The  pews  were  made 
bv  the  individual  families  who  spent  no  little  effort  to  make  them  as 
neat  and  comfortable  as  possible.  The  entrance  to  the  log  church  was 
in  the  south  end.  A  high  flight  of  steps  led  up  to  the  entrance.  The 
pulpit  was  in  the  north  end  on  a  platform  about  five  feet  above  the 
floor,  and  a  broad  aisle  led  up  to  it.  It  was  soon  found  that  the  flight 
of  steps  were  difficult  to  ascend  and  an  entrance  was  made  in  the  east 
and  west  walls  making  an  aisle  crossing  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  The  log 
church  was  used  until  1852  when  a  comfortable  brick  building  was 
erected.  This  building  was  destroyed  by  a  heavy  wind  storm  March 
27,  1911,  about  the  time  the  congregation  reached  their  homes  after 
worship.  With  characteristic  energy  and  devotion  the  congregation 
erected  a  new  house  of  worship  which  is  well  adapted  for  all  the  activi¬ 
ties  of  a  country  church  and  was  dedicated  June  9,  1912.  The  name 
of  Upper  Bull  Creek  was  changed  to  Westminster,  April  19,  1852. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Abraham  Boyd,  S.  S.,  1835-1845;  Rev.  James  M.  Smith,  S.  S., 
1847-1848;  Rev.  Ephraim  Ogden,  1847-1858;  Rev.  John  V.  Miller,  1859- 
1863;  Rev.  Josiah  McPherrin,  1865-1872;  Rev.  James  T.  Patterson, 
1874-1879;  Rev.  John  S.  Atkinson,  1881-1888;  Rev.  Lewis  E.  Keith, 
1889-1890;  Rev.  William  J.  Hazelett,  1894-1901;  Rev.  David  S.  Gra¬ 
ham,  1904-1907;  Rev.  Francis  A.  Gaupp,  1914-1918;  Rev.  Harvey  W. 
Logan,  1922-. 


ELDERS 


James  Boyd,  W  illiam  M.  McGeary,  Robert  Love,  John  Anderson, 
Robert  Brewer,  N.  P.  Bracken,  W'illiam  Norris,  John  Murray,  Adam 
Reed,  George  Gibson,  Robert  Brewer,  James  Sweeney,  James  McCaf- 
ferty,  John  S.  Love,  Augustus  Stice  and  J.  P.  Kirkpatrick. 

Present  Session:  James  W’atson,  W.  L.  Thompson  and  W.  S. 
Scott. 

KENNERDELL 

The  earliest  of  the  four  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Churches  estab¬ 
lished  within  the  present  bounds  of  Butler  Presbytery  was  organized 
in  1838  by  13.  J.  Law  and  Rev.  Jacob  Murphy  in  a  log  school  house 
at  the  Phipps  Furnace.  Among  the  original  members  are  the  follow¬ 
ing  names:  George  Berringer,  W  atson  Mayes,  Josiah  Lamburn,  David 
Phipps,  Margaret  Phipps,  Amelia  Phipps,  Sarah  Phipps,  Samuel 
Phipps,  George  Wise  and  wife,  Eva  Surrena,  Elizabeth  Surrena,  Joseph 
Say,  George  Dille,  Catherine  Dille,  Elizabeth  Phipps,  Arna  Milliard, 
Margaret  Henderson,  Mary  J.  Lockhard  and  John  Lockhard.  The  first 
three  names  given  composed  the  original  Session.  I  he  church  was 
named  Little  Scrubgrass. 

With  two  exceptions  the  pastorates  were  brief.  From  1851  to 
1856  the  congregation  had  only  an  occasional  service  and  became  almost 
disorganized.  In  the  latter  year  Rev.  J.  M.  Gallagher  was  secured  to 
preach  one-half  of  his  time  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kennerdell  and 
he  remained  until  1861.  He  reorganized  the  church  and  renewed  its 
membership.  The  second  longest  pastorate  was  that  of  Rev.  Joseph 
A.  Bowman.  After  service  as  a  chaplain  in  the  Civil  War  he  came  in 
September,  1865,  to  supply  the  church  for  six  months  and  the  next  year 
he  became  the  regular  pastor  and  served  the  church  until  1884.  when, 
because  of  ill  health  the  congregation  agreed  to  his  release. 

I  he  church  held  a  number  of  “protracted  meetings”  accompanied 
with  considerable  excitement  and  emotion.  Many  were  awakened  to 
their  sinful  state  and  duty  of  confession  but  were  not  permanently 
attached  to  the  church.  I  heir  zeal  was  largely  enthusiasm  which  soon 
waned.  All  who  lapsed  were  harder  to  induce  “to  take  a  stand  for 
Christ”  in  subsequent  meetings.  The  many  lapses  then,  as  now,  were 
due  to  the  fact  that  those  who  were  moved  to  serve  the  Lord  lacked 
workers  capable  of  helping  and  training  them  in  Christian  work. 

In  1866  the  place  of  preaching  was  changed  to  Kennerdell.  In 
Rev.  D.  A.  Cooper’s  pastorate  of  three  years,  beginning  April  1,  1887, 
the  church  location  was  changed  again  to  the  Francis  and  Mary 
W  itherup  farm.  4  hey  gave  the  two  acres  of  ground  on  which  the 
church  building  stands.  In  this  period  Scrubgrass  (Kennerdell)  and 
Irwin  were  grouped  together. 


123 


By  virtue  of  the  consolidation  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
and  the  Presbyterian  Churches  in  May,  1906,  this  church  lay  within 
the  bounds  of  Butler  Presbytery,  yet  the  actual  transfer  w  as  not  effected 
until  June  20,  1907.  Because  one  of  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery 
was  called  Scrubgrass  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  to  Kenner- 
dell  April  22,  1908.  Its  membership  at  that  time  was  and  has  been 
served  from  Clintonville  every  two  w'eeks  on  Sabbath  afternoons.  It 
has  been  difficult  to  maintain  vigorous  interest  in  the  Sabbath  School 
and  preaching  services  and  several  times  Presbytery  felt  that  the  church 
had  served  its  purpose,  but  a  revival  of  interest  or  a  plea  for  better 
care  and  assistance  prevented  its  dissolution. 

MINISTERS  1838-1906 

Rev.  D.  J.  Law,  1839-1843;  Rev.  Carl  Moore,  1843-1843;  Rev. 
Jesse  Adams;  Rev.  Jacob  F.  Wall,  1849-1831;  Rev.  J.  M.  Gallagher, 
1866-1884;  Rev.  T.  J.  Johnston,  1883-1887;  Rev.  D.  E.  Cooper,  1887- 
1890;  Rev.  R.  U.  Grossman,  1890-1893;  Rev.  W.  H.  Dillon,  1897- 
1898;  Rev.  F.  M.  Moore,  1899-1902;  Rev.  Carey  Steward,  1902-1904. 

ELDERS 

George  Berringer,  Watson  Mayes,  Joseph  Lamburn,  Abraham 
Witherup,  Joseph  Phipps,  Joseph  McOuistion,  S.  D.  Porter,  S.  M. 
Lockhard,  T.  J.  Eakin,  D.  K.  Buchanan,  S.  L.  Lockhard  and  W.  P. 
Wolford. 

CLINTONVILLE 

The  history  of  the  pioneer  churches  of  Butler  Presbytery  for  the 
first  forty  years  shows  no  division  of  the  original  parishes.  The  first 
church  asked  to  yield  a  part  of  its  territory  was  Scrubgrass.  A  number 
of  its  members  in  Clintonville  and  vicinity  presented  a  petition  to 
Presbytery  October  6,  1840,  asking  for  a  church  to  be  organized  in 
their  village.  Their  request  was  granted  and  Rev.  John  Coulter  and 
Rev.  John  Munson  were  appointed  to  organize  a  church  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  November,  but  at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
October  20,  1840,  Scrubgrass  petitioned  Presbytery  to  reconsider  its 
former  action  and  their  prayer  was  granted.  “The  committee  was  in¬ 
structed  to  proceed  to  the  place  on  the  day  appointed  with  a  view  to 
ascertain  the  true  state  of  the  things  in  relation  to  that  place  and 
Scrubgrass  and  that  the  committee  report  to  Presbytery  at  the  next 
meeting.”  The  committee  was  strengthened  by  the  addition  of  Rev. 
Loyal  Young.  This  committee  reported  on  January  6,  1841,  “That 
they  had  attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them  and  after  hearing  the 
statements  of  the  commissioners  from  Scrubgrass  on  the  subject  and 
they  having  made  no  objections  to  the  claims  of  the  people  of  Clinton¬ 
ville,  your  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  desire  of  the  petitioners 


124 


should  he  granted.”  Rev. 
Robert  B.  Walker  and  Rev. 

John  Agnew  were  appointed 
to  organize  said  church  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  February 
next.  The  committee  report¬ 
ed  at  the  next  meeting  that  it 
had  discharged  the  duty  ap¬ 

pointed. 

T  he  young  church  was  prac¬ 
tically  an  orphan.  It  had  de¬ 
prived  itself  of  pastoral  over¬ 
sight  for  pastors  were  all 
overworked  in  the  one  or  two 
large  congregations  they  serv¬ 
ed  and  could  not  give  an  infant  church  the  pastoral  help  and 
instruction  when  it  needed  these  most.  For  the  first  six  years 

the  church  was  dependent  upon  such  supplies  as  they  could 
secure.  Idle  proof  of  the  sincerity  and  vigor  of  the  first 

members  lies  in  the  fact  that  they  held  together  and  increased  the 
membership  to  twenty-four  when  they  obtained  their  first  pastor  June 
22,  1847.  It  was  grouped  with  Pleasant  Valley,  a  new  organization 
also,  and  Harrisville,  each  receiving  one-third  of  the  pastor’s  services. 
This  was  truly  a  missionary  area.  The  sincerity,  integrity  and  fidelity 
of  the  membership  of  this  church  to  Christ  and  His  Kingdom  deter¬ 
mines  its  value  and  power  rather  than  the  material  evidences  of  pros¬ 
perity.  One  of  the  severest  tests  of  the  unity  and  spirituality  of  a 
household  of  faith  is  its  ability  to  overcome  internal  disturbances. 
Like  many  other  congregations  its  records  reveal  instances  of  intoxica¬ 
tion,  dancing,  breaking  the  Seventh  Commandment,  strife  between 
brethren  and  with  their  spiritual  leader  sometimes.  Such  distressing 
experiences  so  check  piety  and  spiritual  unity  and  activity  that  it  may 
require  years  to  regain.  To  the  credit  and  honor  of  the  Clintonville 
Church  it  has  risen  from  humiliation  and  proved  her  fidelity  by  a 
broader  and  better  service.  If  this  church  is  to  be  rated  by  the  number 
of  her  sons  that  have  become  ministers  and  the  quality  of  their  work 
it  is  entitled  to  high  honor. 

This  list  includes  Robert  f.  Phipps,  D.  D.,  a  Home  Missionary, 
Henry  C.  Foster,  D.  D.,  Charles  P.  Hollister,  T.  Parker  McKee,  John 
A.  Eakin,  D.  D.,  Missionary  to  Siam,  William  James  McKee,  Mission¬ 
ary  at  Ningpo,  China,  and  Frank  E.  Simcox,  who  was  killed  by  the 
Boxers  at  Pao-Ting-Fu,  China,  June  30,  1900.  Two  sisters  of  Rev. 
John  A.  Eakin.  D.  D.,  Mrs.  Belle  Eakin  Dodd  and  Elizabeth  Eakin, 


were  missionaries  in  Siam  and  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  this  list.  Miss 
Elizabeth  Eakin  died  in  Siam  in  1914. 

The  church  was  visited  with  gracious  ingatherings  under  its  earlier 
pastors,  viz.:  Rev.  John  Moore,  45;  Rev.  John  V.  Miller,  36;  Rev. 
James  Coulter,  50;  Rev.  J.  Park  Barbor,  105;  and  in  the  latter  pastorate 
benevolences  increased  from  $36  to  $268.  The  instruction  and  training 
of  its  five  hundred  and  twenty-seven  members  to  the  close  of  Rev. 
Gray’s  service  is  a  noble  privilege  and  if  well  done  great  shall  be  the 
rejoicing  when  the  Lord  cometh  “to  make  up  His  jewels.” 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  John  Moore,  1847-1849;  Rev.  John  V.  Miller,  1851-1858; 
Rev.  James  Coulter,  1860-1864;  Rev.  Thomas  VanEman,  1867-1873; 
Rev.  J.  Park  Barbor,  1874-1879;  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Glenn,  1880-1884; 
Rev.  William  M.  Hays,  1886-1893;  Rev.  James  M.  Kelly,  1899-1902; 
Rev.  Thomas  J.  Gray,  1903-1912;  Rev.  Clarence  O.  Anderson,  1914- 
1918;  Rev.  Hodge  M.  Eagleson,  1919-1920;  Rev.  Thomas  F.  Kerr, 
1921-. 

ELDERS 

Thomas  McKee,  Sen.,  William  Christie,  James  Baird,  Robert 
Cross,  Thomas  McKee,  Jun.,  Joseph  Cummings,  John  A.  Kilpatrick, 
Porter  Phipps,  James  Scott,  D.  C.  McKee,  John  Kimes,  A.  F.  Hollister, 
R.  J.  Phipps,  John  M.  Baird,  Melvin  Phipps,  James  Anderson,  J.  Eluston 
Vandyke,  C.  Parker  McKee  and  John  Porter. 

Present  Elders :  William  Cross,  Isaac  J.  Clay,  Raymond  D.  Pierce, 
James  S.  Forbes,  Earl  E.  Henderson,  M.  D.,  Fred  K.  Porter  and  Benja¬ 
min  A.  Porter. 

GROVE  CITY 

The  first  attempt  to  establish  any  church  in  the  hamlet  of  Pine 
Grove,  now  Grove  City,  is  embodied  in  the  following  record,  '‘January 
10,  1842.  At  a  meeting  of  sundry  persons  members  of  Center  Church 
desirous  of  dissolving  their  connection  with  said  church  for  various 
considerations  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  we  organize  and  form 
an  independent  society.”  At  this  meeting  it  was  also  agreed  “to  peti¬ 
tion  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  to  organize  a  church,  and  Daniel  Uber  and 
James  Kerr  were  appointed  to  draft  a  petition,  obtain  signatures  and 
appear  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery.”  This  reference  was  to  the 
New  School  Presbytery  of  Erie  and  the  committee  presented  the  peti¬ 
tion  at  the  meeting  of  said  Presbytery  in  Mercer,  Pa.,  January  18, 
1842.  Favorable  action  was  taken  upon  the  petition  as  follows: 
“  I  hat  Messrs.  Pettibone,  Lockwood  and  Stewart  be  a  committee  to 
attend  to  the  organization  of  said  church  on  the  7th  of  February,  1842.” 

On  the  day  appointed  Messrs.  Pettibone  and  Stewart  organized  the 


126 


church  in  the  village  school  house.  In  this  act  thirteen  members  of 
Center  declared  their  independence  of  the  mother  church  as  did  the 
colonies  in  1776.  The  names  of  the  signers — seven  men  and  six 
women, — were  James  Kerr,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kerr,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Hunter,  Daniel  Uber,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Uber,  Mrs.  Mary  McDonald, 
David  McDowell,  Mrs.  Hannah  McDowell,  Charles  Cunningham,  J. 
J.  Kerr,  Miss  Sarah  Brandon,  and  James  Tidball.  Daniel  Uber  and 
James  Tidball  were  chosen  Ruling  Elders.  Mr.  Tidball  was  ordained 
and  with  Mr.  Uber,  previously  an  Elder  in  Center  church,  was  installed 
by  Rev.  Pettibone. 

These  steps  clearly  indicate  their  doctrinal  views  and  sympathy. 
Equally  strong  convictions  had  the  new  organization  on  temperance, 


slaver}’  and  other  social  and  national  questions.  This  church  occupied 
a  position  midway  between  the  ultra-conservatism  of  Center  and  the 
radical  positions  of  the  Free  Presbyterian  Church  of  Harrisville  and 
was  a  vigorous  protest  against  the  attitude  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  that  day  toward  religious  and  national  issues.  Owing  to  the  causes 
which  led  to  the  separation  from  the  mother  church  and  to  the  intense 
loyalty  of  the  surrounding  region  to  the  Old  School  Branch  the  growth 
was  naturally  very  slow.  In  the  first  decade  the  following  ministers 
were  nursing  fathers  of  the  congregation:  Messrs.  Hampson,  Reed, 
Craighead,  Johns,  Wright,  McMasters,  Beebe,  McGee,  West,  Babcock, 
Streight.  Hammer  and  Pettibone  and  in  this  period  the  net  increase 
was  only  six  but  the  courage,  loyalty  and  devotion  of  the  membership 
had  not  abated. 


Another  ten  years  must  the  church  depend  upon  supplies  before  a 
minister  comes  to  dwell  in  the  midst  of  the  congregation.  His  coming 
was  providential  and  was  on  this  wise.  Rev.  William  T.  Dickson,  a  New 
School  Minister  and  a  native  of  Butler  County,  had  developed  a  flour¬ 
ishing  school  at  Sunbury,  now  West  Sunbury,  prior  to  the  Civil  War. 
When  President  Lincoln  issued  a  call  for  volunteers  so  many  of  Rev. 
Dickson’s  students  enlisted  that  the  school  was  practically  disorgan¬ 
ized.  The  beloved  teacher  entered  the  service  as  a  chaplain  and  was 
attached  to  the  regiment  in  which  his  boys  were  serving.  Ill  health 
compelled  Rev.  Dickson  to  resign  after  about  a  year's  service.  He 
sought  to  revive  the  school  in  the  later  part  of  1862,  but  the  people 
were  too  deeply  absorbed  in  the  necessities  of  war  to  manifest  much 
school  interest.  The  vacant  church  at  Pine  Grove  offered  Rev.  Dickson 
a  livelihood  and  he  came  as  Supply  for  one  year  from  January  1.  1863. 
The  teaching  instinct  and  experience  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickson  soon 
gathered  around  them  the  young  people  and  their  parents  who  were 
interested  in  higher  education.  So  helpful  was  Rev.  Dickson  as  a  min¬ 
ister  and  a  teacher  in  the  community  that  he  was  installed  the  first 
pastor  of  the  church  June  26,  1864,  more  than  twenty-two  years  after 
its  organization.  The  church  building  became  the  school  room  five 
days  in  the  week  and  the  place  of  worship  on  the  Sabbath.  This  was 
an  ideal  arrangement  for  the  Christian  church  and  school  render  a  joint 
service  and  should  never  be  separated.  The  church  prepares  men  and 
women  for  the  highest  service  before  God  and  the  school  prepares  the 
same  lives  for  the  truest  Christian  citizenship.  This  ideal  relation  of 
church  and  school  under  the  nurturing  care  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Dickson 
for  more  than  ten  years,  has  been  a  dominant  factor,  in  other  hands,  in 
the  enlightenment  of  the  surrounding  region  in  the  past  half  century. 

The  growth  of  the  church  was  quite  slow  until  the  close  of  the 
Civil  War.  In  February,  1867,  forty-seven  members  were  received  on 
examination  and  three  bv  letter.  The  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New 
School  Branches  in  1870  made  possible  the  real  growth  and  strength  of 
the  Pine  Grove  Church.  Rev.  Dickson’s  gentle  spirit  and  ways  did 
much  to  develop  a  deep  religious  loyalty.  Substantial  families  united 
with  the  church  because  it  was  convenient.  It  is  also  worthy  of  record 
that  Mrs.  Helena  McDowell,  Mrs.  Hannah  McDowell,  Miss  Nancy 
Miller,  Daniel  Wick,  Mrs.  Jane  Wick,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Thompson,  Mrs. 
Jane  McDowell  with  perhaps  others  who  were  members  of  the  Free 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Harrisville  had  united  with  the  Pine  Grove 
Church  by  1871.  In  1874  the  citizens  of  Sunbury  and  vicinity  per¬ 
suaded  Rev.  Dickson  to  return  to  their  Academy  and  he  was  released 
with  deep  regrets  Novembr  15,  1874. 

One  year  and  two  days  later  Rev.  William  J.  McConkey  became 
the  pastor  of  Pine  Grove  and  Center  Churches,  devoting  one-half  of  his 


128 


time  to  each  congregation.  In  that  year  the  church  reported  one  hun¬ 
dred  thirty  members  and  an  outlay  of  $109.60  for  benevolences. 
Four  months  later  Isaac  C.  Ketler  opened  a  school  for  higher  and 
classical  education  in  a  vacant  room  in  the  public  school  building  of 
the  village.  For  thirty-five  years  these  kindred  minds  and  true  yoke¬ 
fellows  toiled  unitedly  and  incessantly  to  make  Grove  City  the  excep¬ 
tional  religious  and  cultural  centre  it  has  become.  Then  Dr.  McConkey 
laid  down  the  heavy  burden  and  in  the  latter  half  of  1913  these  co¬ 
laborers  were  called  to  their  reward  amidst  profound  sorrow  of  the 
entire  community.  Not  only  did  the  Presbyterian  Church  but  the 
Methodist  Episcopal.  United  Presbyterian  and  other  churches  share  in 
this  mutual  growth  with  the  college.  But  this  continuous  growth 
could  not  go  beyond  the  ability  of  the  community  to  provide  financial 
support.  The  establishment  of  manufacturing  plants  increasing  the 
earning  power  of  large  numbers  of  workers  and  thus  in  turn  made  pos¬ 
sible  further  advances  by  church  and  college.  The  Sabbath  School  has 
made  special  progress  until  it  is  one  of  the  best  organized  and  most 
effective  in  this  part  of  the  state.  The  genuine  interest  of  the  congre¬ 
gation  in  missions  and  the  special  activity  of  various  missionary  organ¬ 
izations  is  evident  when  $12,940  was  reported  for  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions  and  Freedmen  in  1921-1922.  The  church  supports  five  per¬ 
sonal  representatives  on  mission  fields:  Mrs.  Herbert  Stewart,  Siam; 
Stephen  Lewis,  M.  D.,  China;  Miss  Gertrude  M.  Eakin,  Oregon,  and 
Noi  Kami  and  Noi  La,  Siam. 

4  he  young  men  who  became  ministers  and  went  to  Foreign  Mis¬ 
sion  Stations  are  Howard  Campbell,  D.  D.,  John  II.  Lawrence,  Harry 
A.  Rhodes,  Thomas  FI.  Montgomery,  Herbert  W.  Stewart,  Edwin  C. 
Howe,  Edward  C.  Seel,  Harold  S.  Reed  and  Ludwig  C.  Schaumberg. 
Ralph  Cunningham,  M.  D.,  a  son  of  the  congregation,  has  been  a 
medical  missionary  in  China  since  1902,  and  Stephen  Lewis,  M.  D., 
is  the  personal  representative  of  the  church  in  medical  work  in  China. 

Besides  the  foreign  missionaries  through  the  attraction  and  influ¬ 
ence  of  Grove  City  College  the  following  have  been  candidates  of 
Butler  Presbytery  and  have  become  Presbyterian  ministers,  viz.,  R. 
Clarence  YanEman,  Clarence  Mcjunkin,  Isaac  C.  Ketler,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 
W  illis  S.  McN'ees,  D.  D.,  J.  Glenn  Cunningham,  Erank  W.  Hays,  D.  D., 
John  A.  Courtney,  D.  D.,  William  G.  Reagle,  D.  D.,  W.  Kirk  Cozad, 
\\  illiam  FI.  Bleakney,  David  A.  Green,  Frank  A.  Cozad,  Winfield  S. 
Kreger,  D.  D.,  John  A.  Rodgers,  D.  D.,  Elmer  C.  Wortman,  J.  Raven 
Welch,  Ralph  G.  Knox,  J.  Lynn  Howe,  Walter  P.  McConkey,  Uriah  D. 
Reiter,  Ernest  B.  Lawrence,  C.  Garman  Johnson,  Robert  L.  Barbor, 
F.  Paul  McConkey,  David  R.  4  hompson,  Paul  A.  Eakin,  Frank  Eakin, 
I.  Sturger  Shultz,  John  A.  King,  and  Archie  R.  Bartholomew. 

The  congregation  for  five  years  worshiped  in  the  open  air  or  in  a 


129 


barn  in  summer  and  in  private  homes  in  winter.  In  1847  the  little 
handful  of  members  reared  the  walls  and  roofed  a  small  frame  build¬ 
ing  that  stood  in  the  rear  of  the  present  building.  At  first  it  had  no 
ceiling  or  plastering.  Its  floor  was  loose  boards  and  its  pews  were 
planks  resting  upon  wooden  blocks  or  rude  benches.  In  the  next  five 
years  the  building  was  completed  and  dedicated  by  a  grateful  people 
to  the  Glory  of  God. 

On  September  19,  1878,  a  new  and  commodious  frame  church  was 
dedicated.  Ten  ministers  besides  the  pastor  were  present  at  this  solemn 
service,  participating  in  the  happy  occasion.  The  building  stood  where 
the  main  building  now  stands  and  cost  $4000. 

In  time  this  building  became  crowded  and  the  congregation  decided 
to  enlarge  their  house  of  worship.  The  frame  building  was  moved 
back  and  veneered  with  brick  to  furnish  prayer  meeting  and  Sunday 
School  rooms.  Then  the  present  auditorium  sixty  by  seventy-five 
feet  in  Mediaeval  Style  was  added  at  a  total  outlay  of  $21,000.  This 
building  was  dedicated  May  25,  1893,  by  a  congregation  numbering 
five  hundred  fifty  members. 

The  congregation  of  twelve  hundred  fifty-four  members  and  a 
Sabbath  School  enrollment  of  one  thousand  twenty-five  scholars  under 
the  vigorous  leadership  of  the  Rev.  Charles  H.  Williamson  are  prepar¬ 
ing  to  erect  a  new  edifice  on  a  new  plot  to  meet  the  present  and  future 
needs  of  this  zealous  and  progressive  people. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  William  T.  Dickson,  1864-1874;  Rev.  William  J.  McConkey, 
1895-1910;  Rev.  Herbert  Hezlep,  1912-1914;  Rev.  F.  Paul  McConkey, 
1915-1920;  Rev.  Charles  H.  Williamson,  1921-. 

ELDERS 

Daniel  Lber,  James  Tidball,  David  W.  Howard,  William  H.  H. 
McCoy,  Thomas  W.  Dale,  Robert  F.  Smith,  Joseph  W.  Anderson, 
Joseph  A.  McDowell,  R.  Cowden  Craig,  Isaac  C.  Ketler,  LL.  D.,  James 
A.  Gilmore,  J.  Elmer  Black,  J.  C.  Cheeseman,  M.  D.,  William  A.  Buck- 
holdt,  A.  Kerr  McCandless,  Robert  J.  Billingsley,  Charles  M.  Cun¬ 
ningham,  A.  Scott  Black,  Charles  F.  Eldridge,  John  S.  Campbell  and 
Peter  Haun. 

The  Present  Session :  M.  B.  Montgomery,  Ira  C.  Black,  J.  Sher¬ 
man  McCoy,  L.  Lamont  McKay,  Charles  W.  Clelland,  Glenn  H.  Crow- 
they,  Edward  J.  Fithian,  M.  D.,  Sterling  J.  Glenn,  Ralph  E.  Mont¬ 
gomery,  James  Howe,  Harry  W.  Lawrence,  Weir  C.  Ketler,  LL.  D.,  J. 
Edwin  Black,  William  IT  Clark  and  Fred  G.  Hall. 


130 


BUFFALO 


The  Church  at  large  and  the  State  as  well  should  hold  in  lasting 
gratitude  and  honor  the  unselfish  and  self-sacrificing  labors  of  pioneer 
heralds  of  the  Cross.  They  were  faithful  to  their  own  churches,  often 
widely  separated,  and  were  true  evangelists  to  outlying  settlements- 
In  this  regard  Rev.  Abraham  Boyd  deserves  special  mention.  Three 
churches,  Deer  Creek,  Upper  Bull  Creek,  now  Westminster,  and  Buffalo, 
must  be  credited  wholly  to  his  labors  after  having  been  pastor  of  Bull 
Creek  Church  for  31  years,  just  one-half  of  his  life  time  after  being 
released  in  1833.  When  he  felt  that  his  strength  was  no  longer  suffi¬ 
cient  for  the  exacting  duties  of  the  pastorate,  he  retired  to  his  farm 
and  tilled  its  soil  to  secure  the  necessities  for  his  frugal  habits,  but 
found  his  chief  joy  in  proclaiming  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  Redeemer. 
He  created  opportunities  for  his  missionary  spirit.  To  the  north  of 
his  old  parish  were  scattered  new  settlements  and  to  these  he  brought 
the  message  of  grace  and  hope.  After  he  had  gathered  and  nurtured 
the  Upper  Bull  Creek  congregation  until  it  was  organized  into  a  church 
in  1835,  he  turned  his  eye  to  the  east.  Just  when  his  missionary  efforts 
began  in  the  region  of  Buffalo  is  not  clear,  but  it  was  prior  to  1841  for 
in  that  year  Rev.  Boyd  was  appointed  by  Presbytery  to  supply  at 
Buffalo  for  one  year  in  connection  with  Upper  Bull  Creek.  He  con¬ 
tinued  his  missionary  efforts  until  the  desire  developed  for  a  church 
organization  and  until  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Allegheny 
Presbytery  in  the  year  1845,  praying  to  be  organized  into  a  church. 
The  petition  was  approved  and  Rev.  Abraham  Boyd,  Rev.  Thomas  W. 
Kerr  and  Elder  Wm.  Hill  were  appointed  a  committee  to  organize  a 
church.  The  committee  performed  its  duty  on  August  3,  1843,  and  the 
name  given  to  the  new  church  was  Buffalo  in  honor  of  the  township. 
It  is  located  about  one  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Sarversville.  The 
twelve  original  members,  five  men  and  seven  women,  were  Jacob 
Staley,  Mary  Staley,  Andrew  McCaskey,  Mary  McCaskey,  Wm. 
Cruikshanks,  Jane  Ann  Cruikshanks,  Thomas  Bickel,  John  Moorhead, 
Nancy  Moorhead,  Mrs-  Sarah  Smith.  Sarah  B.  Smith  and  Martha 
Beatty. 

\\  m.  Cruikshanks  and  Andrew  McCaskey  were  the  elders  selected 
for  the  young  church.  Rev.  Boyd  supplied  the  church  which  he  was 
instrumental  in  gathering  in  connection  with  Upper  Bull  Creek,  now 
\\  estminster.  These  two  churches  were  the  children  of  his  old  age 
and  they  were  especially  near  and  dear  to  his  heart.  The  church  has 
been  very  conservative  and  slow  to  adopt  modern  methods,  yet  it  is 
still  witnessing  a  good  confession. 

In  1843-44  a  small  house  of  worship  was  erected.  Between  the 
hewn  studding  it  was  filled  in  with  mortar  made  of  clay  and  cut  straw, 


131 


and  small  strips  of  wood.  This  building  was  used  until  after  the 
Civil  War  and  in  1867  the  present  frame  building  was  built.  It  has 
been  repaired  several  times  and  is  a  pleasant  and  convenient  house  of 
worship. 

Like  other  institutions,  the  church’s  usefulness  and  efficiency  is 
measured  by  what  it  imparts  to  people.  Judged  by  such  a  standard, 
Buffalo  Church  has  done  a  good  work.  From  its  organization  in  1843 
to  April  4,  1888,  272  had  been  received  by  examination  and  108  by 
certificate,  a  total  of  380,  about  32  times  the  original  membership. 
Who  can  measure  the  influence  this  church  has  exerted  upon  the  ideals, 
customs  and  lives  of  many,  both  members  and  others  in  the  past  80 
years.  Its  present  membership  is  92. 

This  church  lost  all  her  records  when  the  house  of  James  B. 
Bricker,  the  clerk  of  Session,  was  burned  in  June  13,  1920. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Abraham  Boyd,  S.  S.,  1843-1846;  Rev.  D.  D.  McKee,  S.  S., 
1846-1847;  Rev.  Ebenezer  Henry,  S.  S.,  1847-1849;  Rev.  Newton  Brack¬ 
en,  S.  S.,  1849;  Rev.  John  Cairns,  1851-1857;  Rev.  John  V.  Miller, 
1859-1864;  Rev.  Josiah  McPherrin,  1865-1873;  Rev.  James  T.  Patter¬ 
son,  1874-1879;  Rev.  John  S.  Atkinson,  1881-1888;  Rev.  Lewis  E.  Keith, 
1889-1890;  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Hazlett,  1894-1901;  Rev.  David  S.  Graham, 
1904-1907;  Rev.  Arnold  J.  Sauerbrunn,  1910-1920;  Rev.  Harvey  W. 
Logan,  1922. 

ELDERS 

Wm.  Cruikshanks,  Andrew  McCaskey,  Thomas  Bicket,  John 
Whittinger,  Joseph  Galbreath,  Charles  McCafferty,  Jacob  Bricker,  John 
P.  Bricker,  Wm.  S.  Galbreath,  Thomas  W.  Elliott,  John  P.  Hepler, 
Wilson  H.  Todd  and  W.  H.  McCafferty,  M.  D. 

Present  Session :  James  B-  Bricker,  Charles  A.  Smith  and  James 
M.  Cruikshanks. 

PLEASANT  VALLEY 

Between  June  25th  and  October  21st,  1845,  a  church  was  organized 
following  the  petition  from  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  on  the  south 
branch  of  Slippery  Rock  creek  for  the  organization  of  a  church  in  their 
bounds.  I  he  organizers  were  Rev.  John  Munson,  Rev.  Loyal  Young 
and  Elder  McB  ride  and  the  name  selected  for  the  new  church  was  most 
appropriate  and  descriptive — Pleasant  Valley.  Its  original  members 
were  from  the  Concord  Church  seven  miles  away  and  were  eighteen 
in  number,  namely,  James  Campbell,  Levi  Gibson,  David  Russell, 
Robert  McCallen,  Dr.  H.  C.  Linn,  James  Smart  and  Robert  Allison 
and  their  wives,  Elizabeth  Black  and  Mary  Ann  Black.  The  first 
elders  selected  were  Dr.  H.  C.  Linn,  James  Smart  and  Robert  Allison. 


132 


The  present  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1846,  but  was  thoroughly 
remodeled  about  forty  years  ago. 

This  congregation  in  common  with  many  others  has  maintained  a 
constant  struggle  to  keep  the  lamp  of  the  Lord’s  house  trimmed  and 
burning.  It  is  located  in  a  region  almost  wholly  engaged  in  agricul¬ 
tural  pursuits.  Hills  prevail,  the  soil  is  thin  and  grudgingly  yields  its 
increase.  Markets  also  are  distant.  These  and  other  conditions  have 
made  it  hard  to  provide  adequate  salary  for  ministers  and  for  the 
Boards.  Short  pastorates  resulted  and  frequent  vacancies  of  less  or 
greater  length  lowered  the  spiritual  interest  and  enthusiasm.  It  has 
also  been  troubled  by  family  differences,  almost  feuds  at  times  and 
some,  due  to  human  frailties,  have  brought  sorrow  upon  their  fellow 
worshipers.  In  spite  of  all  handicaps  and  hindrances  the  ordinances 
of  the  Lord’s  house  have  been  sustained,  the  gospel  has  been  earnestly 
proclaimed  and  believers  have  been  built  up  in  their  most  holy  faith, 
through  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century.  Several  showers  of  re¬ 
freshing  have  come  from  the  Lord  at  opportune  times  and  the  hearts 
of  the  faithful  were  gladdened  and  the  church  continued  to  witness 
valiantly  for  Christ.  The  early  records  of  the  Session  perished  when 
the  house  of  Charles  H.  Book,  the  clerk  of  session,  was  burned.  Its 
membership  is  95.  The  expenses  of  the  past  year  were  $780  and  the 
gifts  for  the  Boards  $210  and  $145  for  miscellaneous  charities. 

PASTORS  AND  STATED  SUPPLIES 

Rev.  John  Moore,  1847-1849;  Rev.  T.  Sharp  Leason.  S.  S.,  1840; 
Rev.  John  Coulter,  1850-1858;  Rev.  James  Coulter,  1 86^- 1 87 1 ;  Rev. 
Alexander  S.  Thorn,  1872-1875;  Lie.  Alonzo  W.  Lawrence,  S.  S.,  1877- 
18/8;  pastor,  1878-1880;  Rev.  George  W.  Bean,  S.  S.,  1880-1883; 
Rev.  D.  H.  Laverty,  S.  S.,  1885-1886;  Lie.  J.  G.  Rose,  S.  S., 


133 


May-October,  1887;  Rev.  Henry  G.  Blayney,  1889-1896;  Rev.  I.  Davi¬ 
son  Decker,  1897-1903;  Rev.  Charles  L.  Bradshaw,  1905-1914;  Rev. 
George  J.  Timblin,  1915-1918;  Rev.  David  R.  Thompson,  1921-. 

ELDERS 

H.  C.  Linn,  M.  D.,  James  Smart,  Robert  Allison,  James  Camp¬ 
bell,  William  Porter,  George  Christy,  Thomas  Cratty,  Wm.  McElvain, 
A.  Kerr  McCandless,  Alfred  W.  Christy,  J.  R.  Billingsley,  Walter 
Curry,  Charles  H.  Book,  Henry  Peters,  Houston  Russell,  Wm.  Stewart, 
John  C.  Newman,  Alfred  J.  Black,  Leon  V.  Groves,  M.  D.,  and  Ira 
Sankey. 

Present  Session :  James  E.  Perry,  Glenn  Brown.  Wm.  Daugherty 
and  H.  Curtis  Hockenberry. 


IRWIN 

Irwin  Church  was  organized  as  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
by  Rev.  M.  Bird  but  the  exact  date  has  not  been  found.  From  the 
earliest  records  the  following  were  members — perhaps  charter  members 
prior  to  July  1,  1843,  when  the  first  members  were  received,  viz.,  John 
Gibson,  Nancy  Gibson,  Hugh  Marshall,  John  Coulter,  Streight  Extell, 
Everton  Davis,  Hannah  Davis,  Joseph  Kennedy,  Henry  Koonse,  Betsy 
Koonse,  Amos  Koonse,  Caleb  Kirk  and  Julia  Kirk. 

The  early  records  are  very  meager,  often  only  mention  important 
events  of  the  church’s  history.  There  is  no  record  of  the  first  Elders. 

PASTORS 

“On  Monday  succeeding  the  2nd  Sabbath  of  October,  1843,  Jacob 
Murphy  was  installed  pastor  of  said  congregation  in  connection  with 
the  Coolspring  Congregation.”  Rev.  Murphy  was  the  first  pastor  of 
the  church.  Rev.  Jacob  Wall  began  to  supply  the  church  April,  1850, 
and  was  installed  pastor  December  11,  1852,  giving  one-third  of  his 
time  for  $100  per  year.  The  dates  when  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Murphy, 
who  died  December  23,  1850,  began  and  that  of  Rev.  Wall  are  not  re¬ 
corded. 

Rev.  Joseph  Gallagher  began  his  work  April  1.  1865,  at  the  rate  of 
$160  for  one-third  of  his  services.  Elis  salary  was  advanced  to  8200 
in  1871  and  so  popular  was  he  that  the  congregation  prospered  until  in 
1877  the  congregation  offered  him  $300  for  one-half  of  his  services. 
He  asked  to  be  relieved  April  1,  1877,  after  a  pastorate  of  twelve  years, 
but  was  present  and  preached  January  2,  1888. 

Rev.  J.  I.  Means  supplied  the  church  one  year,  ending  April  1, 
1889.  It  is  not  likely  that  Rev.  J.  I.  Means  was  installed  in  1889  for 
one-half  of  his  time  at  $300  salary,  for  Rev.  E.  H.  Lyle  was  promised 
a  similar  salary  from  April  1,  1890.  He  accepted  the  call  “reserving 


134 


the  right  to  quit  any  time  by  giving  two  months’  notice.”  Rev. 
Lyle  may  have  supplied  for  a  few  months,  but  Rev.  A.  B.  Miller  was 
called  April  1.  1891,  for  one-half  of  his  time  at  a  similar  salary.  No 
other  ministerial  records  are  given. 

After  the  union  and  reunion  of  the  Presbyterian  and  the  Cumber¬ 
land  Presbyterian  Churches  was  effected  in  May,  1906,  the  Irwin 
Church  was  formally  received  into  the  Butler  Presbytery,  November 
26.  1906.  This  church  became  a  part  of  the  Amity  and  Millbrook 
pastoral  charge  and  has  proved  itself  as  a  true  yokefellow.  It  has  also 
made  commendable  progress  in  the  various  organizations  within  the 
church. 

Since  the  union  the  church  has  had  as  pastors: 

Rev.  John  A.  James,  1907-1914;  Rev.  \Y.  Gray  Alter,  1915-1918; 
Rev.  Melzar  D.  McClelland,  Ph.  D.,  1919-1921;  Rev.  W.  II.  Nicholson, 
1922-. 

ELDERS 

John  Gibson.  Amizi  Axtell,  Hugh  Marshall,  John  Coulter,  Joseph 
Beighlea,  W  illiam  Osborne,  Samuel  Kilgore,  Oliver  Beach,  D.  El.  Alex¬ 
ander  and  Alvah  Osborne. 

Present  Sessions  Thomas  \Y.  Jack,  James  L.  Griffin,  M.  Luther 
Beach,  Frank  Burdette,  Henry  Turner  and  Chester  Smith. 

ZELI ENOPLE 

Dr.  Detmer  Basse,  a  native  of  Frankfort,  Germany,  came  to  Butler 
countv  in  1802  and  purchased  ten  thousand  acres  of  land  lying  in 
Butler  and  Beaver  counties.  On  his  estate  he  laid  out  a  village  which 
he  named  Zelienople  for  his  daughter  Zelie  and  built  a  wooden  baronial 
castle  and  outbuildings  of  unique  designs  one-half  mile  west  of  the 
village  site.  He  named  his  castle  “The  Bassenheim.”  In  1810  the 
little  community  built  “an  octagonal  brick  house  on  the  Diamond  for 


135 


school  and  religious  purposes.”  Tradition  says  that  Rev.  Reed 
Bracken,  the  young  pastor  of  Plains  and  Mount  Nebo  Churches, 
preached  in  this  building  as  early  as  1810  to  the  few  English  speaking 
residents  of  the  community.  The  settlers  of  Zelienople  were  almost 
exclusively  of  families  reared  in  strict  Lutheran  and  German  Reformed 
Churches.  They  used  the  German  language  in  social  and  business 
intercourse,  in  school  and  in  religious  services.  The  isolated  Ameri¬ 
cans  were  as  aliens  in  the  land  of  their  birth  and  they  longed  for  re¬ 
ligious  instruction  in  their  own  tongue. 

The  four  persons  who  were  most  active  in  securing  occasional  ser¬ 
vices  were  Thomas  Wilson,  his  two  sisters  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Hoffe.  The 
first  official  reference  to  this  little  band  is  found  in  the  minutes  of 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh  for  1824  where  Zelienople  is  listed  with  “vacant 
congregations  not  able  to  support  a  pastor.”  It  is  annually  reported 
in  this  list  until  1831  when  the  name  disappears  altogether.  But  the 
little  band  persevered  in  their  efforts  to  secure  the  bread  of  life  and 
they  were  not  entirely  forsaken.  In  1829  Rev.  William  Nesbit,  recently 
installed  pastor  of  the  Ilopewell  Presbyterian  Church  in  Beaver 
county,  supplied  at  Zelienople  for  a  year.  From  1830  to  1836  Revs. 
Aaron  Williams  and  Mays  preached  frequently  while  employed 
as  teachers  in  the  Manual  School  established  by  the  Presbytery  of  Pitts¬ 
burgh  in  1825  in  the  “Bassenheim.”  This  school  was  for  poor,  yet 
worthy  and  capable,  probably  orphan,  young  men  to  secure  an  educa¬ 
tion  with  the  privilege  of  working  for  their  board  and  tuition.  This 
experiment  was  discontinued  in  1836  after  the  State  Public  School 
system  was  adopted  in  1835  and  the  little  band  was  again  without  a 
spiritual  adviser.  The  Rev.  Lemuel  F.  Leake  prior  to  1845  served 
one  or  more  years  as  missionary  for  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions 
at  Zelienople  and  Harmony  and  other  places.  He  became  pastor  of 
Mount  Nebo  in  1845  for  one-half  of  his  time  and  being  a  classical 
scholar  and  a  teacher  by  instinct,  he  conducted  a  Select  School  in  Zelie¬ 
nople  where  he  lived.  He  doubtless  encouraged  the  formation  of  a 
congregation  and  the  first  meeting  with  this  end  in  view  was  held  March 
31,  1845,  in  the  school  house.  A  constitution  was  adopted  consisting  of 
seven  articles  for  the  conduct  of  the  civil  affairs  of  the  congregation. 
1  he  preamble  of  this  document  is  worthy  of  record,  viz.:  “That  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  regular  and  steady  preaching  by  the  ministry 
of  the  Presbyterian  denomination  we,  the  subscribers  residing  in  Zelie¬ 
nople,  Harmony  and  vicinity  do  agree  to  form  an  association  to  be 
styled  the  Zelienople  and  Harmony  Presbyterian  Congregation,  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  provisions  of  the  following  constitution.” 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  September  7,  1846,  three  resolu¬ 
tions  were  adopted,  to-wit:  1st,  “That  as  soon  as  the  way  is  clear  a 
Presbyterian  Church  shall  be  organized  in  this  place;  2nd,  That  we 


136 


apply  to  Presbytery  for  the  same  donation  of  $75  to  be  continued  for 
the  coming  year  ;  3rd,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  solicit 
subscriptions  and  to  become  responsible  to  Rev.  Leake  for  the  sum  of 
$125  for  his  services  as  pastor  of  our  church.”  The  congregation  must 
have  presented  its  petition  to  Presbytery  at  the  September  meeting  for 
the  organization  was  effected  November  7,  1846,  by  a  committee  com¬ 
posed  of  Rev.  Reed  Bracken,  Rev.  Newton  Bracken  and  Elder  Matthew 
Graham.  The  service  was  held  in  the  Baptist  Church  and  the  following 
members  were  enrolled,  nine  from  Mount  Nebo  and  four  others,  namely, 
Thomas  Wilson,  Esq.,  Mrs.  Nancy  Wilson,  Jane  Wilson,  Mary  Ann 
Wilson,  Mrs.  Margaret  Story,  Mrs.  Ann  Wilson,  Mrs.  Mary  Lusk, 


William  Covert,  John  L.  Welsh,  Mrs.  Jane  Welsh,  Mrs.  C.  R.  Leake, 
Mrs.  Sarah  I  Ioffe  and  William  Potter.  Thomas  Wilson  and  John  L. 
Welsh  were  chosen  Elders  and  were  ordained  and  installed  by  the 
committee.  Rev.  Leake  was  only  Stated  Supply  of  the  church  he  had 
founded  until  June  23,  1849.  Twenty-three  members  were  received  but 
the  membership  at  the  close  of  his  work  was  eighteen. 

4  he  church  was  vacant  until  November,  1852,  when  Rev.  James 
S.  Henderson  consented  to  supply  half  time  for  $150  per  year  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  pastorate  of  Slippery  Rock  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Beaver  county  and  his  charge  of  a  school  in  North  Sewickley.  This 
relation  continued  until  October,  1855.  It  was  under  Rev.  Davidson 
that  the  work  of  building  a  church  was  undertaken.  On  June  9,  1854, 


137 


the  building  committee  comprised  of  James  Covert,  Francis  F.  Wilson 
and  Craig  B.  Wilson  were  authorized  to  take  bids  for  a  brick  building 
thirty-four  by  forty-six  feet  and  not  less  than  sixteen  feet  high.  This 
building  was  completed  in  1855  at  a  cost  of  $1500  and  was  dedicated 
with  a  debt  of  $425,  which  was  paid  four  years  later.  This  building  is 
the  Sabbath  School  room  since  the  new  part  was  added  in  1902,  making 
a  neat  and  commodious  edifice.  This  addition  cost  $14,000.  Before 
the  church  was  erected  services  were  held  in  the  school  house,  the  Baptist 
Church  and  for  the  last  several  years  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Rev.  Henry  Webber  supplied  the  church  from  the  latter  part  of 
1855  to  1865,  giving  one-half  of  his  time  at  a  salary  of  $175.  The 
church  had  thirty-eight  members  when  he  began  work  and  thirty-one 
were  added.  Rev.  D.  D.  Christy  supplied  the  church  one-half  of  his 
time  for  $300  per  year  for  two  years,  1866  to  1868,  when  he  returned  to 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  church  grew  slowly  in  numbers  and  financial  strength  under 
the  supply  system  of  nearly  twenty-five  years,  the  period  that  especially 
needs  the  presence  and  wise  counsel  of  an  approved  workman.  As  the 
town  prospered  and  enlarged  the  church  grew  apace.  It  has  now  its 
greatest  membership,  three  hundred  two,  and  is  one  of  the  most  active, 
efficient  and  growing  churches  of  the  Presbytery  under  its  capable  pas¬ 
tor,  Rev.  C.  N.  Moore.  The  Sabbath  School,  Missionary  Society  and 
Endeavor  Society  have  borne  much  fruit. 

Sons  of  the  congregation  who  have  become  ministers  are:  Samuel 
M.  Goehring,  Albert  H.  Goettman  and  Joseph  R.  Goehring. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Lemuel  F.  Leake,  S.  S.,  1846-1849;  Rev.  James  S.  Henderson, 
1852-1855;  Rev.  Henry  Webber,  1855-1865;  Rev.  D.  D.  Christy,  1866- 
1868;  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Johnston,  1870-1882;  Rev.  Rudolph  C.  Yates, 
1883-1895;  Rev.  Paul  J.  Slonaker,  1895-1901;  Rev.  Hugh  Leith,  1902 
1909;  Rev.  J.  Claire  Leech,  1910-1911;  Rev.  Ardo  P.  Bittinger,  1911- 
1915;  Rev.  Andrew  F.  Heltman,  1915-1917;  Rev.  Charles  N.  Moore, 
191 9-. 

Thomas  Wilson,  John  L.  Welsh,  Ferris  Armour,  Ethan  Kelly, 
Robert  Semple,  F.  S.  Wilson,  Thomas  Potter,  D.  P.  Boggs,  R.  S. 
Nichols,  Albert  Winter,  Henry  Buhl,  E.  J.  Lithian,  M.  D.,  A.  H.  Wilson, 
M.  D.,  J.  A.  Osborne,  M.  D.,  George  W.  Mayes,  Matthew  Graham 
and  J.  B.  Me  Intire. 

The  Present  Session :  David  G.  Bastian,  W.  Henry  Gelbach, 
Samuel  O.  Wright,  John  E.  Kocher,  Charles  H.  Goehring  and  D.  Ray 
Colmery. 


138 


NEW  SALEM 


The  New  Salem  Presbyterian  Church  is  located  in  the  village  of 
Annisville,  midway  between  Scrubgrass,  Ebenezer  (Parker  City)  and 
Concord  Churches,  and  was  constituted  from  families  connected  with 
these  churches.  The  church  consisted  of  twenty  members  and  was 
organized  in  the  barn  on  a  farm,  now  owned  by  Miss  Lizzie  Cook, 
July  12.  1847,  by  Rev.  Loyal  Young  and  Rev.  Lewis  L.  Conrad.  Lif- 
teen  letters  were  presented  to  the  committee,  viz.,  Richard  Allen.  Mrs. 
Marv  Allen.  William  D.  Allen,  Mrs.  Jane  Allen,  Mrs.  Mary  Bond, 
Peter  Coe,  Mrs.  Christina  Coe,  George  Gibson,  Mrs.  Nancy  Gibson, 
Catherine  Hadley,  Sarah  Hilliard,  Mrs.  Nancy  Myers,  Mrs.  Sarah 
McMahan,  Peter  Shira  and  Mrs.  Jane  Shira.  Live  others  were  received 
upon  examination  and  profession  of  their  faith  as  follows:  Catherine 
Hilliard,  Watson  Mayes,  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Mayes,  John  Moore  and 
Margaret  Ann  Shira.  Having  formally  adopted  the  Doctrinal  Stand¬ 
ards  and  Lorm  of  Government  the  church  was  constituted  and  com¬ 
mended  to  God  in  prayer.  The  members  of  the  Session  were  Richard 
Allen.  William  D.  Allen  and  George  Gibson. 

“The  congregation  now  found  that  the  time  of  action  had  come,” 
says  one  of  the  first  Elders.  They  proceeded  to  erect  a  house  of  wor¬ 
ship.  Materials  were  brought  to  the  location  agreed  upon  for  the 
church.  The  lumber  was  put  in  a  drying  kiln  and  when  almost  dried 
caught  tire  and  was  consumed.  Though  the  loss  was  heavy,  the  people 
came  promptly  to  the  rescue  and  in  due  time  a  house  of  worship, 
forty-five  feet  long,  forty  feet  wide,  with  a  ceiling  fourteen  feet  high 
was  completed  and  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the  true  and  living  God. 

The  first  four  years  the  church  depended  upon  Presbytery  and 
such  occasional  supplies  as  could  be  secured  for  the  bread  of  life. 
None  of  its  members  were  blessed  with  much  of  this  world’s  goods  and 


139 


the  growth  was  slow,  yet  throughout  its  history  the  members  had  been 
loyal  to  the  church  and  loyal  to  the  pastor.  The  truest  test  of  a  church 
is  not  what  the  gospel  does  for  its  families  and  the  community  but  the 
Christlike  love  for  others  which  true  followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly 
Nazarene  manifest. 

This  church  has  never  had  a  pastor  of  its  own  and  in  all  its  con¬ 
nections  with  other  congregations  has  it  had  an  equal  share  of  the  pas¬ 
tor’s  services.  One  seventh  of  its  history  the  church  has  been  without 
an  under  shepherd.  New  Salem  Church  has  earned  the  right  to  be  fat 
and  flourishing  in  its  old  age.  The  spiritual  life  and  influence  which 
the  church  has  exerted  upon  the  ideals  and  morals,  social  and  political, 
activities  of  the  community  caused  a  grateful  people  to  return  on 
July  12,  1922,  the  seventy-fifth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the 
church,  to  praise  and  render  thanks  before  the  ever-blessed  God  for  His 
unfailing  mercy,  grace  and  love.  The  church  enters  its  last  quarter  of 
its  first  century  with  faith  and  courage. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  John  Y.  Miller,  1851-1855;  Rev.  J.  Redic  Coulter,  1857-1870; 
Rev.  Beriah  C.  Montgomery,  1873-1876;  Rev.  Thomas  M.  Thompson, 
1878-1882;  Rev.  William  J.  Hazlett,  1883-1894;  Rev.  Robert  L.  Alter, 
1894-1903;  Rev.  Willis  S.  McNees,  1903-. 

ELDERS 

Richard  Allen,  William  D.  Allen,  George  Gibson,  Edward  E. 
Evans,  George  McClelland,  Samuel  H.  Moore,  James  Hall,  J.  Miller 
Shira,  W.  Perry  Mechling,  W.  Hamilton  Redic,  Melzar  D.  McClelland, 
Silas  H.  Evans,  R.  Oliver  Lewis,  W.  Shryock  Allen,  Andrew  D.  Groom, 
W.  Allison  Bell,  Nelson  W.  Cress,  and  A.  Warren  Robb. 

NORTH  BUTLER 

In  the  minutes  of  Redstone  Presbytery  for  April  10,  1798,  Thorn’s 
Tent  is  among  the  vacancies  making  “supplication  for  supplies.’’  As 
nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  this  tent  was  located  on  the  Robert  Thorn 
farm  about  a  mile  south  of  west  from  the  present  North  Butler  Church. 
Later  most  of  its  attendants  combined  with  those  of  Salt  Spring  under 
the  new  name  of  Harmony  Congregation.  Still  some  Presbyterian 
families  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  tent  and  were  nominally 
in  the  bounds  of  the  Concord  and  Butler  Churches  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  John  McPherrin,  which  closed  with  his  death  February  10, 
1823,  and  while  his  successor,  Rev.  John  Coulter,  was  pastor  of  the 
Butler  Church.  These  scattered  families  were  accustomed  to  meet  at 
Fergus  Hutchison’s  for  worship.  In  the  winter  services  were  held  in 
his  house  and  during  the  summer  they  worshiped  monthly  in  Mr.  Hut¬ 
chison’s  barn. 


HO 


An  old  lady,  Mrs. 
Martha  J.  Campbell,  of 
North  Washington,  re- 
calls  an  incident  that 
occurred  in  that  barn. 
Her  mother  was  a  sister 
of  Mrs.  Hutchison  and 
though  only  a  child,  she 
remembers  most  dis¬ 
tinctly  how  frightened 
she  was  when  her  moth¬ 
er  fainted  during  the  services.  She  believed  her  mother  was  dead  and 
could  hardly  be  pacified. 

On  April  14,  1846,  “a  petition  was  presented  to  Presbytery  from  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Donegal  and  North  Butler  Townships 
requesting  that  a  congregation  might  be  organized  in  that  region.” 
Revs.  R.  B.  Walker  and  Thomas  W.  Kerr  were  appointed  to  meet  at 
the  house  of  F.  Hutchison  on  the  3rd  Tuesday  of  May  at  12  M.  to  or¬ 
ganize  a  congregation  if  the  way  should  be  clear.  The  committee  re¬ 
ported  that  “they  had  fulfilled  their  appointment  and  organized  a  congre¬ 
gation  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  North  Butler.”  It  appears  that  the 
congregation  consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Jack,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Joseph  Thorn,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Russell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  Mc¬ 
Call,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Robb  and  Mrs.  William  Neyman  and  was 
regarded  as  a  branch  of  the  Concord  Church. 

On  October  6,  1847,  the  congregation  asked  for  “the  organization 
of  a  church”  and  Rev.  John  Coulter  was  appointed  to  organize  a 
church  at  that  place  between  this  and  the  Spring  meeting  of  Presby¬ 
tery.  Rev.  Coulter  performed  the  duty  assigned  him  on  January  18, 
1847.  44ie  original  members  were  about  twenty,  including  all  in  the 
congregation.  Samuel  Jack,  Isaac  Robb  and  Joseph  W.  Thorn  were 
chosen  Elders  at  the  organization.  Presbytery  tried  to  send  two  of  its 
ministers  to  supply  the  church  between  each  meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 
Otherwise  the  Church  was  left  to  secure  its  own  supplies.  After  Rev. 
Miller  was  released  April  4,  1858,  the  church  had  few  supplies  for  two 
years.  The  church  became  almost  disorganized.  It  appealed  to  Pres¬ 
bytery  in  June,  1860,  “to  be  united  to  the  Church  of  Butler,”  and  the 
latter  concurred  in  the  request.  A  committee  appointed  to  inquire  as 
to  the  right  property  recommended,  “that  no  union  of  these  congrega¬ 
tions  be  effected,  1st.  Because  a  union  of  the  North  Butler  Church  with 
that  of  Butler,  effecting  the  disorganization  of  the  former,  would  be 
attended  with  a  forfeiture  of  property  belonging  to  that  church. 
2nd.  A  connection  of  the  two  churches  in  one  pastoral  charge  would 


141 


meet  with  prompt  and  decided  opposition  from  the  Church  of  Butler.” 
This  report  was  confirmed  by  Presbytery.  This  was  fortunate  for  the 
Church  was  bestirred  to  renewed  effort  and  Presbytery  took  an  active 
interest  in  its  behalf.  Between  June,  1862,  and  April,  1865,  Rev. 
James  Coulter  was  Stated  Supply,  giving  one-third  of  his  time  to  this 
church. 

The  first  house  of  worship,  a  frame  building,  was  erected  in  1848 
on  the  present  grounds  which  the  young  church  bought  from  Mr. 
Fergus  Hutchison.  This  building  was  burned  before  it  was  finished. 
Undaunted,  the  congregation  reared  another  frame  structure  upon  the 
same  foundation  a  year  later.  Rev.  John  Coulter  preached  the  dedi¬ 
catory  sermon  of  this  house.  The  present  house  of  worship  was  erected 
in  1881  at  a  cost  of  approximately  $1,500. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Marshall  to  the 
close  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Sloan’s  service  except  when  Rev.  Decker  supplied 
it  and  was  pastor,  this  church  was  associated  with  the  mother  church 
and  at  present  is  united  with  the  East  Butler  Church.  This  typical 
country  parish  has  been  seriously  affected  by  the  trend  away  from  the 
farm,  yet  in  recent  years  it  has  given  splendid  support  to  the  Boards. 
It  reported  123  members  this  year,  but  its  real  work  cannot  be  tabu¬ 
lated. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  John  V.  Miller,  1851-1858;  Rev.  James  Coulter,  S.  S.,  1862- 
1864;  Rev.  James  FI.  Marshall,  1865-1889;  Rev.  I.  Davison  Decker, 
1898-1903;  Rev.  Wilson  IF  Sloan,  1903-1910;  Rev.  Charles  C.  Cribbs, 
1911-1913;  Rev.  George  J.  Timblin,  1913-1915;  Rev.  Melzar  D.  Mc¬ 
Clelland,  Ph.  D.,  1915-1919;  Rev.  Earl  F.  Stehman,  1918-1922. 

ELDERS 

Samuel  Jack,  Isaac  Robb,  Joseph  Thorn,  William  Dinsmore,  John 
L.  Neyman,  Archibald  Mcjunkin,  Andrew  McCaskey,  W.  C.  Robb, 
Christy  Robb,  W.  J.  Hutchison,  W.  Henry  Neyman,  J.  Harvey  Christy 
and  Robert  E.  Robb. 

Present  Session:  Sumner  B.  Badger,  J.  Harvey  Moser  and  Charles 
I  Iutchison. 

SLIPPERY  ROCK 

Where  the  road  from  Franklin  to  New  Castle  intersected  the  road 
from  Butler  to  Mercertown,  a  village  started  about  1825.  Being  mid¬ 
way  between  these  four  county  seats  the  village  was  appropriately  nam¬ 
ed  Centerville.  Then  as  now,  these  roads  were  popular  routes  of  travel 
and  the  village  located  at  their  junction  became  a  trading  center  for  a 
wide  district,  the  most  important  between  the  larger  towns  named. 
Naturally  tradesmen  and  others  serving  the  public  located  at  this  center. 
By  1835  one  or  more  representatives  of  the  following  vocations  were 


citizens  of  the  village — physician,  tavern-keeper,  merchant,  blacksmith, 
carpenter,  tinsmith,  wagonmaker,  cabinetmaker,  shoemaker,  hatter  and 
tanner. 

Residents  of  Presbyterian  persuasion  in  the  vicinity  and  village 
attended  either  Plain  Grove  or  Harrisville,  each  about  five  miles  dis¬ 
tant.  This  they  continued  to  do  for  more  than  a  quarter  century 
when  a  desire  began  to  manifest  itself  for  the  organization  of  a  church 
in  the  Borough  of  Centerville.  At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  April  11, 
1854,  the  following  action  is  recorded,  “Petitions  were  received  from 


the  citizens  of  Centerville  and  North  Liberty  asking  for  organization 
of  churches  in  these  places.  Messrs.  Young,  Munson,  Walker  and 
Satterfield  were  appointed  to  organize  a  church  at  Centerville  on  the 
18th  inst.  and  one  at  North  Liberty  on  the  day  following  if  the  way 
be  clear.” 

I  he  organization  was  effected  April  24,  1857,  with  twenty-nine 
members — all  by  certificate,  as  follows:  William  B.  Cooper  (Elder), 
Mary  Cooper,  David  Armstrong,  Margaret  Armstrong,  Elizabeth 
Smith,  Margaret  Cowan,  James  Tharp,  Elizabeth  Tharp,  Isaac  A. 
Davidson,  Ann  Eliza  Davidson,  Thomas  Kerr,  Harriet  Connor,  David 
M.  Porter,  Mary  Ann  Porter,  Fannie  A.  Porter,  Eli  G.  Cooper, 
Nathaniel  Cooper  (Elder),  jane  Cooper,  Elizabeth  Bigham,  I  Iezekiah 
El.  Vincent,  Polly  Vincent,  Asenath  Beckwith,  William  McConnell, 


143 


Jane  McConnell,  Thomas  Mifflin,  Mary  E.  Mifflin,  Mary  Seth  and 
Elizabeth  Jane  Cooper.  The  first  twenty-five  named  were  from 
Plain  Grove  Church,  the  three  following  from  Harrisville  and  the  last 
one  from  Center  Church. 

Nathaniel  Cooper,  William  B.  Cooper  and  Thomas  Mifflin  were 
the  first  Elders.  Centerville  was  the  name  selected  by  the  congregation. 
Presbytery  approved,  April  15,  1902,  the  change  of  the  name  to  Slippery 
Rock  in  order  to  correspond  to  the  change  of  the  borough  name  to  that 
of  the  Post  Office.  The  early  services  were  held  in  the  school  house  and 
the  first  communion  service  was  held  in  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church. 

A  frame  church,  forty  by  fifty  feet  “without  vestibule,  flat  ceiling 
and  tower  above  the  gable  end”  was  erected  in  1855  at  a  cost  of  $2,400. 
In  the  same  year  the  Sabbath  School  was  organized  and  September  1, 
1856,  a  Woman’s  Missionary  Society  was  effected.  Both  of  these  or¬ 
ganizations  have  been  the  pride  and  the  strength  of  this  congregation. 

For  two  years  the  church  was  supplied  by  various  ministers. 
Licentiate  Samuel  Williams  preached  his  first  sermon  July  6,  1856,  as 
Stated  Supply.  The  church  had  thirty-four  members  at  that  time  and 
he  continued  to  supply  this  church  until  he  was  ordained  and  installed 
as  pastor,  April  14,  1856.  lie  gave  one-half  of  his  time  to  Centerville 
at  a  salary  of  two  hundred  fifty  dollars  when  neither  manse  nor  vacation 
were  included.  The  other  half  of  his  services  he  gave  to  Muddy 
Creek  Church.  The  church  greatly  prospered  under  Rev.  Williams 
and  at  the  end  of  twelve  years  wanted  the  whole  of  his  services,  but 
Muddy  Creek  protested  so  strongly  that  the  latter  congregation  secured 
his  release  from  Centerville  July  22,  1869.  One  hundred  fifty-two 
members  had  been  added  by  examination  and  sixty-seven  by  letter. 
For  the  first  eight  years  of  this  pastorate  the  pews  were  appraised  by 
a  committee  and  assessed  twenty  per  cent  for  the  pastor’s  salary  and 
for  two  years  the  assessment  was  raised  to  thirty  per  cent  when  the 
plan  was  discontinued.  A  sample  may  be  given: 

January  7,  1867  Samuel  McCleary  Dr. 

To  30%  tax  on  Value  of  Pew  No.  14.  Value  $25  00  $7.50 

“In  1862  Mrs.  Mary  A . . . .  voluntarily  appeared  before  the 

Session  and  confessed  her  fault  of  having  married  without  the  consent 
of  her  parents  and  at  a  time  when  her  assistance  was  much  needed  at 
the  home  of  her  father  on  account  of  sickness  in  his  family,  whereupon 
she  was  restored  to  good  and  regular  standing  in  the  church.”  I  his 
incident  shows  either  the  strictness  of  the  Session  or  a  tender  conscience 
- — perhaps  both. 

Upon  the  foundation  so  well  laid  four  pastors — Rev.  D.  C. 
Cooper,  Rev.  James  A.  Menaul,  Rev.  James  H.  Wright  and  Rev.  Jesse 


144 


L.  Cotton — each  with  a  service  of  about  five  years,  rendered  equally 
faithful  and  efficient  service  with  only  a  small  increase  in  membership. 
The  establishment  of  a  State  Normal  School  at  Slippery  Rock  in  1889 
during  Rev.  Jesse  L.  Cotton’s  pastorate  brought  new  families  and  an 
increasing  number  of  students  into  the  town.  The  church  shared  this 
prosperity  under  the  pastorates  of  Rev.  George  R.  Edmundson,  Rev. 
Charles  \.  Moore’s  long  service  of  fifteen  years,  and  is  continuing  under 
Rev.  George  S.  Bowden.  The  membership  has  increased  from  186  in 
1890  to  442  in  1923.  In  1890  the  church  shared  the  pastor’s  services 
with  North  Liberty  Church  and  paid  to  the  Boards  8207  and  $675  for 
congregational  expenses.  It  has  long  had  its  own  pastor  and  paid  in 
1923  to  the  Boards  81.506  and  for  congregational  expenses  $3,317. 

The  church  has  enjoyed  three  ingatherings;  nineteen  were  added 
on  confession  in  1858.  eighty-six  in  1867,  and  fifty-six  in  1876-7.  The 
growth  has  been  steady  and  substantial  and  holds  the  fourth  place  in 
membership  among  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery.  L’nder  the  vigor¬ 
ous  leadership  of  Rev.  Bowden  they  have  been  preparing  either  to  re¬ 
model  the  present  building  or  erect  a  new  house  of  worship  in  the  near 
future. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Samuel  W  illiams,  1857-1869;  Rev.  D.  C.  Cooper.  1870-1875; 
Rev.  James  A.  Menaul,  1875-1881;  Rev.  James  H.  Wright,  1882-1887; 
Rev.  Jesse  L.  Cotton,  1889-1893;  Rev.  George  R.  Edmundson,  1894- 
1903;  Rev.  Charles  X.  Moore,  1904-1919;  Rev.  George  S.  Bowden, 
191 9-. 

ELDERS 

Nathaniel  Cooper,  William  B.  Cooper,  Thomas  Mifflin,  William 
Bigham.  Benjamin  Campbell.  Thomas  Kerr,  Levi  Dale.  Andrew  Breck- 
enridge,  William  O.  Breckenridge,  James  Tharp,  John  T.  Bingham, 
Hezekiah  El.  Vincent,  Benjamin  Pearson.  M.  D.,  William  Kaufman, 
James  S.  Wilson,  Alfred  W.  Christ}',  4  homas  S.  Coulter,  Prof.  I.  Milton 
McClymonds,  W  illis  H.  Dickey,  Lewis  L.  McCullough,  George  \  .  Pat¬ 
terson,  Charles  A.  Bowers,  Clay  C.  Ruff,  John  T.  Hogg,  John  A.  Eakin, 
Benjamin  Pearson,  Norman  F.  Doerr  and  Samuel  L.  Cheeseman. 

WEST  SUXBL'RY 

The  people  of  the  neighborhood  of  West  Sunbury  were  warm  sup¬ 
porters  and  patrons  of  the  Common  School  Law  enacted  in  1834. 
This  interest  grew  and  gave  substantial  encouragement  to  Mr.  Adolphus 
Rebstock  to  offer  instruction  in  1851  in  the  Classics  and  English 
branches.  The  Academy  thus  founded  prospered  and  attracted  eager 
and  progressive  students  for  miles.  In  about  1858  Rev.  William  T. 
Dickson,  a  Presbyterian  minister  and  a  native  of  the  count}',  was  in- 


145 


cluced  to  take  charge  of  the  school.  Rev.  Dickson  frequently  held 
religious  services  in  the  building  in  which  the  school  was  conducted. 
The  interest  thus  created  caused  a  number  of  families  in  the  village 
and  vicinity  to  prepare  a  petition  and  present  it  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Allegheny  asking  for  a  church  organization.  The  request  was  granted 
and  a  church  was  organized  on  September  4,  1860,  by  Rev.  Loyal 
Young,  D.  D.,  Rev.  j.  F.  Boyd  (in  place  of  Rev.  R.  B.  Walker)  and 
Rev.  Samuel  Williams.  The  name  given  the  new  organization  was 
Sunbury  and  so  continued  until  the  name  was  changed  to  West  Sun- 
bury,  owing  to  a  change  of  the  name  of  the  town  for  postal  reasons. 
The  original  members  were:  William  C.  Glenn  and  Rachel  Glenn, 
James,  Ann,  Margaret  and  Samuel  Glenn,  William  M.,  Catherine, 
Jane  and  Margaret  M.  Glenn,  W.  S.  Mechling,  William  and  Nancy 
Patterson,  Joseph  W.  and  Nancy  Thorn,  Henry  C.  and  Sarah  L.  Linn, 
Sarah  A.  Wick,  Andrew,  Sarah  A.  and  Richard  Wick,  J.  C.,  Rebecca 
M.,  Clarissa  and  Alfred  Wick,  James  and  Anna  E.  Gould,  and  Samuel, 
Fannie,  Perry,  Sarah  and  Amanda  McElvaine. 

Henry  C.  Linn,  M.  D.,  and  Joseph  W.  Thorne  were  chosen  elders 
and  ordained  by  the  Presbyterian  committee.  Dr.  Linn  was  appointed 
Clerk  of  the  Session. 

For  almost  fifteen  years  the  congregation  worshiped  in  the 
Academy  building,  now  used  by  the  Common  School  until  the  new 
church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  S5Q00  and  dedicated  July  4,  1875. 

Guided  by  earnest  and  consecrated  pastors  this  congregation  has 
faithfully  proclaimed  the  gospel  at  home  and  abroad  and  generously 
supported  the  West  Sunbury  Academy  until  that  institution  gave  way 
to  a  High  School,  to  which  a  Vocational  Department  has  been  added. 


146 


The  church  appropriately  celebrated  the  fittieth  anniversary # of  its 
organization  in  September,  1910,  the  Presbytery  being  its  guest. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  John  Coulter,  1862-1864;  Rev.  James  Coulter,  1865-1871; 
Rev.  Alexander  Thorne,  1872-1874;  Rev.  \\  m.  T.  Dickson,  1875-18/7; 
Rev.  George  \Y.  Bean,  1878-1885;  Rev.  James  H.  \\  right,  1887-1892; 
Rev.  Davison  Decker,  S.  S.,  1892-1896;  1896-1903;  Rev.  Charles  L. 
Bradshaw,  1905-1914;  Rev.  George  J.  Timblin,  1915-1918;  Rev.  David 

R.  Thompson,  19z0-.  ELDERS 

Henry  C.  Linn.  M.  D.,  Joseph  \Y.  Thorne,  Samuel  McElvaine, 
Wm.  C.  Glenn.  Samuel  Hilliard,  John  S.  Wick,  Perry  W.  Conway, 
Andrew  Porter,  J.  Shepherd  Campbell,  Milton  Hall,  Joseph  H.  4  imblin, 
G.  Coulter  Gibson  and  J.  Horace  Glenn. 

Present  Session:  Charles  R.  Glenn,  DeLoss  Hindman,  Oliver  R. 
Thorne,  Wm.  H.  Dann,  LeRoy  Wick,  Claire  C.  Glenn. 

A  matter  of  historic  interest  was  the  call  issued  April  6,  1905,  for 
the  services  of  Rev.  George  J.  Timblin,  pastor  of  the  Portersville 
Church  and  he  signified  his  readiness  to  accept  the  call  but  a  petition 
of  two  hundred  of  his  parishioners  was  presented  to  Presbytery  pro¬ 
testing  against  his  release  and  after  careful  consideration  Presbytery 

o  o  J  J 

declined  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation. 

SUMMIT 

Within  the  triangle  formed  by  the  church  buildings  of  Butler, 
Middlesex  and  Westminster  congregations  were  a  number  of  Presby- 
terian  and  United  Presbyterian  families  that  traveled  long  distances  to 
their  respective  places  of  worship.  In  the  same  bounds  were  other 
Scotch-1  rish  families  with  affiliations  for  Presbyterianism  but  not 
connected  with  either  denomination.  Rev.  Ephraim  Ogden  in  his  his¬ 
torical  sketch  says,  “Long  previous  to  any  ecclesiastical  organization 
people  frequently  assembled  on  the  Lord’s  Day  for  religious  exercises 
in  this  neighborhood  in  the  open  air,  private  houses  or  the  school  house 
near  this  place,  but  more  frequently  in  a  house  of  worship  for  Protest¬ 
ants  and  familiarly  known  as  The  Temple/  ” 

It  seems  that  the  need  of  a  church  for  this  section  was  realized 
by  these  denominations  at  about  the  same  time.  Because  denomina¬ 
tional  spirit  had  not  begun  to  yield  to  comity  each  sought  to  preempt 
the  field.  The  outcome  was  that  two  churches  were  organized  within 
three  weeks  of  each  other,  two  church  buildings  one  mile  apart  and  two 
small  congregations.  In  response  to  a  petition  praying  for  the  organ¬ 
ization  of  a  church  at  Jefferson-Summit,  five  miles  south  of  Butler,  on 
the  Saxonburg  Road,  Presbytery  on  April  12,  1864,  appointed  Dr. 
Young,  Rev.  E.  Ogden,  William  Campbell,  Philip  Miller  and  William 


McGeary  to  visit  the  grounds  and  if  in  their  judgment  proper,  to  organ¬ 
ize  a  church  and  they  were  instructed  to  proceed  in  this  matter  as  soon 
as  practicable.  The  committee  performed  its  duty  on  May  2  when  six¬ 
teen  certificates  were  presented  from  Middlesex  Church  and  four  from 
Butler  Church  as  follows:  Joseph  Graham,  Abraham  Lowman,  James 
McClellan,  Mary  J.  McClellan,  Robert  McGeary,  Matilda  McGeary, 
Elizabeth  Fitzsimmons,  Eliza  Wright,  Elizabeth  Martin,  Martha  Mar¬ 
tin,  Rosanna  Martin,  Catherine  Brown,  Margaret  R.  Cochran,  Nancy 
Deer,  Elizabeth  Martin,  Thomas  Martin,  Margaret  Martin,  Nancy 
Martin,  Jane  Wright,  and  Elizabeth  Johnson. 

The  name  selected  for  the  church  was  Summit.  The  first  Elders 
were  Joseph  Graham  and  Thomas  Martin.  For  the  first  twenty  years 
this  church  was  supplied.  Rev.  James  S.  Boyd,  William  I.  Brugh  and 
Jesse  W.  Hamilton  ministered  to  it  two,  five  and  two  years  respectively. 
Then  Rev.  Ephriam  Ogden  gave  it  one-third  of  his  time  for  almost 
eighteen  years  in  connection  with  Middlesex  Church.  Its  membership 
reached  its  highest  number,  147,  in  his  ministry.  Rev.  W.  S.  McNees 
served  the  church  five  years  from  December  2,  1890,  to  January  1,  1896, 
when  Presbytery  granted  the  request  of  Middlesex  for  all  his  services. 
Rev.  Edwin  R.  Worrell,  of  the  Second  Church  of  Butler,  supplied  it 
from  April,  1900,  to  April,  1906,  and  Rev.  W.  L.  McMillan,  of  Mid¬ 
dlesex  Church,  from  April,  1907,  to  February,  1920.  On  January  19, 
1922,  the  church  received  its  second  pastor,  Rev.  Henry  B.  Ellwood. 

A  spirit  of  neighborliness  has  marked  the  history  of  this  congre¬ 
gation.  Though  lacking  in  financial  resources  the  people  love  the 
church  and  have  been  very  loyal  to  it.  Recently  it  has  increased  its 
support  of  the  Boards  greatly  and  also  its  pastor.  The  automobile 
traffic  on  the  improved  brick  road  is  the  source  of  much  annoyance 
during  the  hours  of  worship.  The  only  house  of  worship  was  dedicated 
June  22,  1867. 


148 


ELDERS 


Joseph  Graham,  Thomas  Martin,  John  Emeriek,  James  II.  Graham, 
George  Welsh. 

Present  Session:  William  J.  Welsh,  Samuel  M.  Wright,  Daniel  E. 
Negley,  Samuel  J.  Patterson. 

MARTI  NS  BURG 

Prior  to  the  laying  out  of  the  village  of  Martinsburg,  now  Bruin 
Borough,  the  pioneer  residents  were  mostly  of  Presbyterian  ancestry 
and  attended  the  Bear  Creek  Presbyterian  Church.  This  congregation 
became  highly  incensed  over  the  action  of  Presbytery  in  refusing  to 
receive  into  its  membership  Rev.  Joseph  Johnston,  who  had  supplied 
them  so  acceptably  for  some  months  and  in  refusing  permission  to  Rev. 
Johnston  to  continue  to  act  as  Supply.  The  church  withdrew  excepting 
five  families  and  Elder  John  Shryock  from  the  control  of  the  Presby¬ 
tery  and  was  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  . .  in  the 

Associated  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  at  Mercer,  Pa.,  May  28, 
1834.  After  this  unfortunate  incident  no  effort  was  made  to  effect  a 
Presbyterian  organization  in  that  region  until  a  number  of  Presby¬ 
terian  families  became  residents  of  Martinsburg  during  the  early  oil 
development  which  had  the  village  for  a  center.  What  Presbyterian 
minister  first  gathered  together  the  Presbyterian  families  for  public 
worship  and  those  in  sympathy  with  them  is  not  known  now.  Neither 
is  it  known  who  were  foremost  in  encouraging  the  movement  for  a 
Presbyterian  organization.  Sufficient  interest  developed  that  Presby¬ 
tery  approved  a  request  for  the  organization  of  a  church  and  directed 
Rev.  James  Coulter  and  Rev.  James  Marshall  to  repair  to  Martins¬ 
burg  November  21,  1870,  and  if  the  way  be  clear  to  organize  the  church. 
I  he  committee  found  an  eager  group  of  petitioners  and  organized  a 
church  with  the  following  members:  Eli  Gibson,  Elizabeth  Gibson, 
Eli  Gibson,  Nancy  M.  Gibson,  Elizabeth  E.  Gibson,  Harvey  Gibson, 
Isabelle  Gibson,  John  II.  Gibson,  Sarah  Gibson,  Elizabeth  Gibson, 
Montgomery  Gibson,  Mary  Gibson,  John  C.  Martin,  Margaret  Martin, 
Gideon  W.  Martin,  Edward  Morgan,  Florinda  Morgan,  II.  II.  Say 
and  wife,  John  Say  and  wife,  Daniel  M.  Shakaley  and  wife,  Elizabeth 
White,  Jane  White,  John  Walker,  Nancy  Walker,  Ida  Walker,  Maria 
Kelly,  Amos  Young  and  wife.  John  C.  Martin,  Hamilton  H.  Say  and 
Amos  Young  were  the  first  Elders. 

Rev.  James  Coulter  supplied  the  new  organization  most  of  the 
time  until  Rev.  B.  C.  Montgomery  was  ordained  and  installed  Janu¬ 
ary  27,  1874,  as  its  first  pastor  in  connection  with  New  Salem  Church. 

The  congregation  busied  itself  in  securing  a  building  of  worship 
which  was  completed  December,  1873,  for  $4500,  but  was  not  dedicated 


149 


until  September  6,  1874.  At  this  service  Rev.  Robert  B.  Walker,  D.  D., 
preached  the  sermon.  The  cyclone  that  passed  over  Martinsburg 
June  30,  188 2,  twisted  the  building  so  severely  that  considerable  repairs 
were  required.  The  unfavorable  location  of  the  church  raised 
in  due  time  the  three-fold  question,  should  the  building  be  repaired  or 
moved  to  a  new  location  or  erect  a  new  church?  These  propositions 
kept  the  church  agitated  for  several  years.  At  one  time  it  was  decided 
to  repair  and  enlarge  the  church,  but  finally  it  was  decided  to  erect  a 
new  church  in  a  new  location  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $3000.  Charles 
Schoenfield,  Thomas  S.  Fleming,  John  Yoght,  \Y.  A.  Kelly  and  M.  P. 
Black  were  selected  as  a  building  committee  on  April  11,  1896,  and  so 
vigorously  was  the  work  prosecuted  that  the  building  was  dedicated 
October  25,  1896,  at  an  expense  of  $3099,  less  than  one  hundred  dollars 

more  than  their  instructions. 
The  basement  was  excavated 
in  1916  and  an  addition  added 
costing  $6000.  The  building 
is  now  fully  equipped  for  all 
the  activities  of  the  church. 
The  dedicatory  sermon  of  the 
present  church  building  and 
that  of  the  annex  was  preach¬ 
ed  by  Rev.  T.  M.  Thompson, 
D.  D.,  a  former  pastor.  A 
manse  was  secured  in  1910  at 
a  cost  of  $3000. 

The  narrative  for  1890  con¬ 
tains  two  interesting  items, 
“The  Sabbath  School  has 
been  almost  quadrupled  in 
number.  Many  of  these 
are  adults  from  seventeen  to  sixty  years  of  age.  Most  of  these  men 
and  women  have  not  attended  Sabbath  School  since  childhood  and 
some  of  them  had  never  attended.  One  Mission  Sabbath  School  was 
opened  in  Smith  School  I  louse  with  David  Jackson  as  superintendent, 
and  another  was  established  in  the  Stephenson  School  House  and  both 
had  good  audiences.  A  Men’s  Prayer  Circle  was  organized  in  Febru¬ 
ary,  1890,  by  seven  men  who  had  not  been  accustomed  to  offer  public 
prayer.  David  Jackson,  H.  M.  Caldwell,  Thomas  Martin,  V.  F.  T. 
Kelly,  W.  A.  Kelly,  John  Sutton  and  Samuel  Turner  were  the  origina¬ 
tors  of  this  movement.  They  continued  to  invite  others  who  had  not 
taken  part  in  prayer  until  they  numbered  forty  men  who  became  active 
in  winning  others  to  Christ.  This  group  of  men  called  in  Misses  Cora 


and  Blanche  Knox,  Hattie  and  Daisy  Shorts,  Mabel  McCandless  and 
Cora  Turner  to  lead  the  singing  in  their  meetings. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Beriah  C.  Montgomery,  1874-1876;  Rev.  1  homas  M.  I  homp- 
son.  1878-1882;  Rev.  I.  Davison  Decker,  S.  S.,  1883-1889;  Rev.  Francis 
A.  Kerns,  1889-1893;  Rev.  \Y.  Lincoln  McClure,  1893-1899;  Rev. 
James  E.  Miller,  1900-1905;  Rev.  R.  Curtis  Stewart,  1906-1910;  Rev. 
William  F.  Byers,  1910-1921;  Rev.  John  C.  McElroy,  1922-. 

ELDERS 

John  C.  Martin.  Hamilton  11.  Say,  Ames  Young,  John  Say, 
Thomas  Fleming,  Samuel  R.  Gibson,  Jennings  C.  McCandless,  James 
W.  Orr,  F.  M.  Kinter,  Samuel  S.  Knox,  David  Jackson  and  James  S. 
Miller. 

The  Present  Session:  J.  Tweed  Kelly,  Samuel  R.  Gibson,  E. 
James  Steel.  John  A.  Cross,  Van  F.  T.  Kelly  and  Alonzo  T.  Dauben- 
speck. 

JEFFERSON  CENTER 

In  Jefferson  Center  and  vicinity  were  a  number  of  German  fami¬ 
lies  who  used  the  mother  tongue  in  their  homes,  in  their  social  life  and 
business  transactions.  They  were  industrious,  frugal  and  pious. 
Their  customs  and  ideals  differed  much  from  those  of  their  countrymen 
in  Saxonburg  and  its  environs.  The  strong  religious  instinct  and  con- 
victions  of  these  families  were  aroused  by  the  missionary  zeal  of  Rev. 
Carl  Linn.  The  hope  of  securing  an  organization  in  which  the  German 
tongue  could  be  used  in  worship  led  them  to  prepare  a  petition  signed 
by  twelve  persons  and  to  present  it  at  a  meeting  of  Butler  Presbytery 
June  27,  1871.  requesting  “the  organization  of  a  church  near  Saxon¬ 
burg.”  The  petition  was  favorably  received  and  Rev.  E.  Ogden,  Rev. 
J.  \Y.  Hamilton,  Rev.  Carl  Linn  and  Elders  J.  D.  Anderson  and  Thomas 
Martin  were  instructed  to  meet  the  petitioners  and  “to  organize  a 
church  if  the  way  was  clear.”  This  committee  was  also  empowered 
“to  apply  to  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  for  aid  for  Rev.  Carl  Linn 
to  the  extent  they  may  deem  advisable.”  In  their  report  to  Presbytery 
at  its  next  meeting  the  committee  stated  that  it  had  discharged  the 
duties  entrusted  to  it.  organizing  a  church  which  was  named  Linnville, 
on  July  8,  1871,  consisting  of  “nine  members  and  that  ten  had  after¬ 
ward  been  added”  and  that  they  had  applied  for  $350  aid  for  Rev.  Carl 
Linn. 

The  original  members  were  Frank  Fruth,  Mrs.  Anna  Fruth,  Carl 
Goebel, Mrs.  Elizabeth  Goebel,  George  C.  Grabe,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Grabe, 
Wilhelm  Montag,  Mrs.  Catharine  Montag,  Edward  Montag,  Mrs.  Maria 
Montag,  John  Cooper,  Mrs.  Hannah  Cooper,  Maria  G.  Cooper,  Caroline 


Cooper,  Catherine  Cooper,  Gottlieb  Steinhauser,  Carl  Steinhauser, 
Fredrich  Siebert  and  Mrs.  Christina  Siebert. 

Wilhelm  Montag  and  John  Cooper  were  elected  Elders  and  were 
ordained  and  installed  on  the  day  that  the  organization  was  effected. 

Rev.  Linn  supplied  the  congregation  about  one  and  one-half  years 
and  it  was  during  his  service  that  the  present  frame  building  costing 
$2500,  was  erected  on  a  plot  of  ground  donated  by  Judge  Ebenezer 
Mcjunkin.  The  Board  of  Church  Erection  granted  $500,  the  churches 
of  Presbytery  gave  $273  and  some  funds  were  procured  outside  of  Pres¬ 
bytery. 

A  call  for  Rev.  C.  W.  Seaman  was  presented  to  Presbytery  for 
one-half  of  his  services  April  22,  1873,  and  at  this  meeting  the  church’s 
name  was  changed  to  Jefferson  Center.  Rev.  Seaman  served  the  church 
until  May  16,  1875,  but  was  not  installed  as  pastor.  Because  of  the 
slender  support  that  the  small  membership  could  provide  and  because 
there  was  no  other  Presbyterian  church  using  the  German  language 
near  enough  to  effect  a  joint  pastorate  necessarily  left  this  faithful  little 
tlock  isolated  and  helpless.  The  early  Stated  Supplies  bore  these  priva¬ 
tions  without  a  murmur  for  love  of  their  sincere  and  devoted  families 
but  the  time  came  when  they  were  driven  to  better  their  condition. 

For  five  years  after  Rev.  Seaman  withdrew  there  are  no  Sessional 
records  until  Rev.  John  Launitz,  of  Allegheny  Presbytery,  moderated 
a  meeting  ot  Session  on  February  20,  1881,  in  which  this  unique  and 
striking  reason,  worthy  of  record  is  given  in  these  words:  “Ever 
since  the  fall  of  1876  the  congregation  has  had  neither  pastor  nor  a 
regularly  appointed  supply,  no  regular  meeting  of  the  Session  was  held 
and  consequently  no  minutes  could  be  entered.  After  mature  consid¬ 
eration  of  the  existing  difficulties  springing  out  of  the  relationship  of 


the  Lutheran  minister  preaching  to  a  portion  of  our  members,  Session 
directed  the  Rev.  John  Launitz  to  address  the  said  minister  a  letter  in 
which  he  express  the  earnest  admonition  of  the  Session  that  the  min¬ 
ister  abstain  from  all  inteferences  with  the  existing  order  of  the  church 
and  be  careful  not  to  encourage  any  strife  whatever,  for  Session  would 
at  once  order  him  to  cease  labors  among  us  if  he  should  not  heed  this 
warning.” 

From  its  organization  the  church  used  the  German  language  ex¬ 
clusively,  but  during  the  time  Rev.  Limberg  supplied  the  church  many 
of  the  young  people  could  not  read  the  German  language  and  began 
to  demand  English  services.  Rev.  Limberg  gratified  this  desire 
occasionally  by  preaching  an  English  sermon  in  the  evening.  In  de¬ 
ference  to  the  aged,  whose  number  was  rapidly  decreasing  by  death  and 
removals  and  infirmities  it  was  not  until  August  25,  1902,  that  it  was 
voted  "to  hold  two  English  sermons  each  month  during  the  summer  and 
autumn.”  A  little  later  the  German  language  was  set  aside  altogether. 

The  first  candidates  for  membership  received  instruction  in  the 
Shorter  Catechism  for  six  months  or  a  year.  This  was  a  substitute  for 
Confirmation  or  the  modern  Communicant  Class. 

Duplex  envelopes  were  introduced  April  1,  1911,  and  steadily  in¬ 
creased  the  gifts  for  home  support  and  mission  causes.  The  Rotary 
System  of  Elders,  which  was  adopted,  was  changed  to  the  permanent 
system  March  3,  1912. 

Rev.  A.  J.  Sauerbrunn  after  fourteen  years  service  was  called  by 
Prospect  and  Mount  Nebo  Churches  March  28.  1918,  but  inability  to 
secure  a  suitable  house  for  a  manse  the  calls  were  declined.  Through 
his  earnest  efforts  the  membership  grew  in  numbers  and  activity.  Its 
spirituality  and  efficiency  have  kept  pace  with  its  financial  increase. 
The  church  is  now  connected  with  Summit  under  the  leadership  of 
Rev.  H.  B.  Ellwood.  Though  from  the  beginning  the  membership  has 
been  small  and  its  life  often  despaired  of  it  is  a  fresh  illustration  of  the 
truth  that  we  should  not  despise  the  day  of  small  things  for  we  know 
not  "vhereunto  a  thing  may  grow.” 


MINISTERS 

Rev.  Carl  Linn,  S.  S.,  1 87 1  - ;  Rev.  C.  W.  Seaman,  S.  S.,  1 873- 
1875;  Rev.  John  Launitz,  S.  S.,  1881;  Rev.  Augustus  Reibert.  S.  S., 
1881-1885;  Rev.  C.  A.  Limberg,  S.  S.,  1885-1897;  Rev.  A.  C.  Espach, 
1899-1903;  Rev.  Arnold  J.  Sauerbrunn,  1904-1920;  Rev.  Henry  B.  Ell¬ 
wood,  1922-. 

ELDERS 

William  Montag,  John  Cooper,  Carl  Goebel,  Gottlieb  Steinhauser, 


153 


George  C.  Grabe,  Frank  Fruth,  W  illiam  H.  Grabe,  John  W.  Hill,  Philip 
Englehart,  Jacob  K.  Wyant. 

Present  Session:  F.  Elmer  Puff,  Charles  G.  Wetzel  and  William 
Montag. 

ALLEGHENY 

This  was  the  most  northern  of  the  seven  Presbyterian  churches 
organized  at  central  points  in  the  oil  belt  which  crossed  the  County  of 
Butler.  It  was  gathered  through  the  missionary  zeal  and  efforts  of 
Rev-  James  Coulter  and  a  petition  bearing  the  signature  of  a  large 
number  of  people  in  Allegheny  Township  was  presented  to  Butler 
Presbytery  April  27,  1875.  Some  discussion  arose  as  to  the  probable 
permanence  of  a  church  in  an  oil  field  and  the  wisdom  of  curtailing 
Rev.  J.  R.  Coulter's  congregation,  but  Presbytery  appointed  Rev.  James 
Coulter,  Samuel  Williams  and  Elder  James  Crawford  to  visit  the  field 
and  to  organize  a  church  if  in  their  judgment  the  way  was  clear. 

The  committee  organized  a 
church  of  fifty- two  members 
May  20,  1875,  in  the  Grant 
School  House  and  ordained 
and  installed  John  R.  Allen, 
S.  Perry  Eakin,  Aranthus  R. 
Carnahan  and  Charles  C. 
Cooper,  Ruling  Elders.  Presby¬ 
tery  approved  the  name  Alle¬ 
gheny  at  its  next  meeting. 
The  young  congregation  remained  true  to  the  vows  that  the  members 
made  with  God  and  with  each  other.  I  he  membership  has  not  been 
large  but  has  kept  its  lamp  trimmed  and  burning  in  spite  of  the  with¬ 
drawals  of  families  due  to  the  exhaustion  of  the  oil  sands  and  the 
deaths  of  those  residents  who  were  most  interested  in  its  organization 
and  maintenance.  Loyalty  and  fidelity  of  the  congregation  in  pro¬ 
viding  for  the  maintenance  of  the  gospel  at  home  and  for  the  work  of 
the  Boards  are  worthy  of  special  mention.  May  the  Lord  bless  it  and 
cause  it  to  bring  forth  fruit  unto  old  age. 

A  neat  and  comfortable  frame  church  building  was  dedicated 
February  4,  1876.  Two  ingatherings  were  experienced  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Lawther;  in  October,  1902,  twenty-eight  were 
received  upon  confession  and  in  February,  1904,  fourteen  more  were 
added.  In  connection  with  Allegheny  Church  is  a  cemetery  beauti¬ 
fully  laid  out,  neatly  kept  and  an  honor  to  the  church  and  community. 
Its  draughtsman  and  caretaker  for  years — Mr.  J.  P.  Milford,  sleeps  also 
in  the  place  he  had  made  beautiful. 


154 


MINISTERS 


Rev.  James  Coulter,  S.  S.,  1875-1880;  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Hughes,  S. 
S.,  1880-1883;  Rev.  Wm  J.  Hazlett,  1883-1893;  Rev.  James  H. 

Lawther,  1901-1906;  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Thompson,  1906-1908;  Rev. 
John  \Y.  W  itherspoon,  Jr.,  1909-1917;  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Work,  1918-1920; 
Rev.  Arnold  J.  Sauerbrunn,  1920-1922. 

ELDERS 

John  R.  Allen,  S.  Perry  Eakin,  Aranthus  R.  Carnahan,  Charles  C. 
Cooper,  J.  Parker  Milford,  William  Beebe,  Joseph  C.  Kiskaddon, 
Harlan  P.  Kiskaddon,  Samuel  N.  McClymonds,  James  S.  Miller,  John 
E.  Womer. 

Present  Session:  Alexander  Wilson,  Torrance  F-  Young,  M. 
Edwin  Blair,  W.  W.  Kapp  and  Frank  L.  Burns. 

PETROL  I A 

On  an  April  day  of  1872,  the  drillers  on  "1  he  Fanny  Jane  oil 
well  penetrated  the  sand  and  the  golden  fluid  came  with  a  rush.  Soon 
the  underbrush  in  the  valley  and  on  the  hillsides  of  Bear  Creek  were 
alive  with  excited  oil  men.  By  the  end  of  the  year  at  least  two  thous¬ 
and  people  had  established  themselves  around  the  cross  roads  where 
Petrolia  stands.  Many  boom  oil  towns  like  mushrooms  came  up  over 
night  and  in  a  few  years  their  names  and  locations  live  only  in  mem¬ 
ory  or  in  forgotten  printed  pages.  Petrolia  became  a  center  for  oil 
developments  that  continue  to  the  present.  All  the  evils  and  vices  that 
have  made  new  oil  centers,  mining  camps  and  industrial  develop¬ 
ments  notorious  soon  became  evident  in  Petrolia.  Saloons,  gambling 
halls  and  dens  of  vice  and  iniquity  were  wide  open  and  unashamed 
by  day  and  night.  The  forces  of  righteousness  and  order  were  striv¬ 
ing  to  overcome  evil  with  institutions  that  exert  a  constant  influence 
upon  the  ideals  and  customs  of  the  community.  Men  and  women, 
good  and  true,  erected  a 
building  in  1873  for  union 
religious  services.  It  was 
later  purchased  by  the 
Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  which  was  the  first 
church  organization  of  the 
town. 

While  there  were  a  good¬ 
ly  number  of  Presbyterian 
tradesmen  and  workmen 
among  the  five  thousand 


population  no  definite  and  systematic  effort  to  gather  them  for  worship 
was  attempted  until  Mr.  I.  Davison  Decker,  a  young  licentiate  of  Newton 
Presbytery,  came  to  Fairview,  November  7,  1875.  He  preached  fre¬ 
quently  at  Petrolia.  but  Rev.  John  Rutherford  began  to  preach  statedly 
to  a  small  group  of  Presbyterians  in  April,  1877.  This  group  applied  to 
Butler  Presbytery  for  the  organization  of  a  church.  Their  request  was 
granted  and  Revs.  Robert  McCaslin,  James  Coulter,  W.  D.  Patton 
and  Elder  J.  C.  Martin  organized  a  church  of  twenty-five  members 
July  10,  1877.  Seven  men,  fourteen  women  and  four  young  women 
composed  the  original  members  as  follows:  Mrs.  M.  C.  Bene¬ 
dict,  A.  L.  Ivory,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Ivory,  Mrs.  Susan  Jewell,  Mrs. 
Nancy  J.  Black.  John  Andrews,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Island,  Mrs. 
S.  E.  Andrews,  J.  G.  Brandon,  Mrs.  Emma  Brandon,  Miss  Laura 
Brandon.  Miss  J.  C.  Hart,  Thomas  G.  Schick,  Mrs.  Martha  Schick, 
Levi  G.  Wilson,  Mrs.  Flora  Wilson,  Mrs.  E.  Kishartz,  Mrs.  R.  E. 
Foster,  Miss  S.  E.  Foster,  A.  M.  Bricker,  Mrs.  S..  M.  Bricker,  Mrs. 
Sue  D.  Hill,  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Linn.  D.  W.  Bailey,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Thompson. 

The  church  name  chosen  was  Petrolia  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr. 
Alfred  L.  Ivory  and  John  Andrews  were  selected  for  the  office  of  Ruling 
Elder  and  were  ordained  and  installed  by  the  organizing  committee. 
The  congregation  worshiped  in  various  places  in  the  school  house,  in 
the  opera  house  at  $3.00  a  Sabbath  without  fire  and  $4.00  with  fire 
and  in  the  hose  house  or  hall  at  $5.00  per  Sabbath.  The  church  build¬ 
ing  was  erected  at  great  personal  sacrifice  and  was  dedicated  January 
23,  1887,  having  received  $392  aid  from  the  Board  of  Church  Erection. 
The  building  cost  $1537.  The  church  has  never  had  a  large  member¬ 
ship  but  it  has  had  a  faithful  and  loyal  membership.  Its  missionary 
society  was  very  active  for  years.  The  church  was  associated  with 
Fairview'  and  Martinsburg  Churches  and  now  enjoys  one-half  of  the 
services  of  the  pastor  with  Martinsburg. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  John  Rutherford,  S.  S.,  1877-1878;  Rev.  I.  Davison  Decker, 
S.  S.,  1878-1889;  Rev.  Francis  A.  Kerns,  1889-1893;  Rev.  W.  Lincoln 
McClure,  1893-1899;  Rev.  James  E.  Miller,  1900-1905;  Rev.  R.  Curtis 
Stew'art,  1906-1910;  Rev.  William  E.  Byers,  1910-1921;  Rev.  John  C. 
McElroy,  1922-. 

ELDERS 

Alfred  L.  Ivory,  John  Andrews,  John  G.  Brandon,  Levi  G.  Wilson, 
Charles  D.  Backus,  David  Quigley,  Wm.  H.  Daugherty  and  Edwin  P. 
Chesbro. 

Present  Session:  Herbert  M.  Barney,  W.  DeWitt  Imbrie,  D.  D.  S., 
and  Albert  Spence. 


156 


UNION VI I  .LI: 


In  pioneer  days  some  parishes  were  so  large  that  two  or  three 
preaching  places  were  established.  For  years  Muddy  Creek  extended 
over  a  region  ten  by  six  miles.  Residents  of  the  village  of  Unionville 
and  families  three  miles  farther  south  had  been  members  of  Muddy 
Creek  for  years.  The  weekly  trips  over  very  drifted  or  muddy  roads 
for  almost  half  of  each  year  by  families  in  the  extreme  southern  part 
of  the  parish  and  the  residents  who  had  no  way  except  to  walk  to  the 
church  services,  very  naturally  desired  to  have  the  means  of  grace 
dispensed  in  a  place  not  so  distant.  To  do  what  he  could  to  satisfy 
this  desire  so  often  expressed,  Rev.  Samuel  Williams  their  pastor,  be¬ 
gan  about  1870  to  preach  once  a  month  in  the  school  house  in  Union¬ 
ville  to  attentive  hearers.  So  much  appreciated  were  these  services  for 
some  years  that  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Unionville  and  vicinity 
was  held  in  the  school  house  of  Unionville  January  27,  1877,  and  it  was 


decided  to  attempt  the  erection  of  a  church  building.  A  committee 
was  appointed  to  solicit  funds  and  to  report  in  two  weeks.  The  second 
meeting  showed  that  81.380  had  been  subscribed  and  when  the  third 
meeting  was  held  February  17,  1877,  $1,460  had  been  pledged.  Such 
enthusiasm  prevailed  that  it  was  decided  to  build  a  house  of  worship 
and  appointed  Joseph  Coulter,  E.  D.  Eagal,  E.  L.  Varnum,  W.  M.  Mc- 
Candless,  N.  S.  Thompson,  W.  C.  McCandless  and  R.  M.  Russell  a 
building  committee.  These  men  performed  their  duty  in  due  time, 
erecting  a  frame  building  36  by  50  feet  on  a  plot  of  one  acre  of  ground 
donated  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Eagal,  in  the  village  of  Unionville.  This  build¬ 
ing  cost  82,400  and  was  dedicated  October  18,  1879,  Rev.  James  T. 
Patterson  preaching  the  sermon  and  the  venerable  Rev.  Robert  B. 
Walker,  D.  D.,  offered  the  dedicatory  prayer. 

A  petition  requesting  the  organization  of  a  church  was  presented 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Butler,  October  4,  1877.  The  request  of  the  peti¬ 
tioners  was  granted  and  Rev.  James  Coulter,  Rev.  James  II.  Marshall 
and  Elder  John  T.  Bingham  were  constituted  a  committee  to  organize 


157 


a  church  if  the  way  be  clear.  On  October  30,  1877,  the  church  was 
organized,  consisting  of  forty-seven  members,  forty-three  brought  let¬ 
ters  from  the  mother  church,  three  by  letter  from  Butler  Presbyterian 
Church  and  one  upon  examination.  The  name  selected  for  the  new 
organization  was  the  Unionville  Presbyterian  Church.  N.  F.  Mc- 
Candless,  N.  S.  Thompson  and  R.  M.  Russell  were  elected  to  the  office 
of  Ruling  Elder.  The  last  two  were  ordained  and  all  installed. 

Rev.  Samuel  Williams  supplied  the  new  congregation  until  he 
became  their  regular  pastor,  September  13,  1878.  Revs.  J.  H.  Marshall 
and  G.  W.  Bean  installed  him,  and  this  happy  relation  continued  until 
his  death.  He  dwelt  among  his  own  people  and  they  carried  him  ten¬ 
derly  to  his  grave  in  the  hope  of  a  glorious  resurrection. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Samuel  W  illiams,  1878-1893;  Rev.  John  M.  Oliver,  1897- 
1901;  Rev.  James  A.  Pittenger,  1903-1908;  Rev.  Hugh  S.  Shaw,  1909- 
1916;  Rev.  George  H.  Cheeseman,  19 1 6-. 

ELDERS 

X.  F.  McCandless,  N.  S.  Thompson,  R.'  M.  Russell,  IT  IT  Mc- 
Candless,  V  .  A.  Christie,  William  M.  Ramsey,  James  G.  McCullough, 
A.  Holman,  M.  D.,  and  O.  G.  McCandless. 

Present  Session :  W,  B.  McCandless,  W.  C.  Stephenson,  C.  M. 
Noble  and  J.  C.  McCandless. 

NEW  HOPE 

Presbytery  had  supervised  the  education  of  Mr.  Alonzo  W. 
Lawrence  for  nine  years.  Then  it  set  him  apart  to  the  full  work  of 
the  ministry  on  May  14,  1878,  and  entrusted  to  his  care  the  Pleasant 
Valley  Church.  Though  not  of  robust  health  this  enthusiastic  young 
minister  discovered  to  the  northwest  of  his  field  a  community  almost 
equally  distant  from  his  own  and  the  Centerville  and  Llarrisville 
Churches.  4  he  distance  was  about  five  miles  from  each  of  the  churches 
and  was  almost  a  neglected  community.  With  true  missionary  zeal  he 
sought  to  provide  spiritual  instruction.  So  highly  appreciated  was  his 
preaching  and  pastoral  interest  that  there  developed  an  earnest  desire 
lor  the  stated  means  of  grace.  “Forty  church  members  in  and  near  New 
Hope  ’  signed  a  petition  which  was  presented  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Butler  September  30,  1879,  “asking  Presbytery  to  organize  a  church  in 
that  place.”  After  full  consideration  of  the  question  the  request  was 
granted  and  Rev.  J.  FI.  Marshall,  Rev.  W.  J.  McConkey  and  Elder  W. 
P.  Braham  were  directed  “to  visit  New  Hope  and  organize  a  church 
if  the  way  seemed  clear  to  them.”  The  committee  attended  to  this 
duty  “on  November  17,  1879,  organizing  a  church  consisting  of  forty- 


158 


four  members,  forty- 
two  of  these  being  re¬ 
ceived  from  other 
churches  and  two  on 
profession  of  faith.” 

The  name  chosen  for 
the  church  was  the 
name  of  the  communi¬ 
ty,  “New  Hope.” 

Messrs.  John  Porter, 

John  M.  W  ebb,  Robert 
McElhaney.  Robert  A. 

Hartley  and  Perry  A.  Shannon  were  elected  Ruling  Elders.  After  or¬ 
daining  the  last  four  the  committee  installed  the  five  as  Elders. 

This  church  has  rendered  invaluable  service  for  the  moral  and 
social  betterment  of  a  large  territory.  It  has  done  a  quiet  and  steady 
work  that  is  clearly  revealed  in  the  character  and  loyal  service  of  its 
membership.  In  the  first  twenty-five  years  it  had  received  into  its 
fellowship  two  hundred  persons;  the  membership  today  is  ninety-nine. 
The  congregation  gave  $885  for  current  expenses  this  year  and  $562 
were  sent  to  the  Boards. 

SUPPLIES 

Rev.  A.  \Y.  Lawrence  cared  for  the  church  until  April  27,  1880, 
when  he  was  released  on  account  of  ill  health. 

Rev.  James  A.  Menaul.  pastor  of  the  Centerville  Church,  supplied 
the  church  for  eighteen  months. 

Rev.  George  W.  Bean  was  Stated  Supply  from  September,  1882, 
to  1886. 

Rev.  D.  H.  Lavertv  supplied  six  months  in  1886.  Licentiate 
James  G.  Rose  six  months  from  May,  1887,  and  Rev.  Julius  Spencer 
six  months  in  1889. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Henry  G.  Blanev,  1889-1896;  Zechariah  B.  Taylor,  1898- 
1903;  Rev.  Henry  E.  Kaufman,  1904-1909;  Rev.  Sylvester  W.  Young, 
Ph.  D.,  1909-1915;  Rev.  W  illiam  C.  Barnes,  1917-1919;  Rev.  W  illiam 
J.  Snyder,  1920-. 

ELDERS 

John  Porter,  Robert  McElhaney,  Robert  Hartley,  John  M.  W  ebb. 
Perry  A.  Shannon,  Robert  Vandyke,  Joseph  Porter  and  W.  Hutchison 
Bovard. 

Present  Session'.  Thomas  C.  Rhodes,  Oliver  Bovard,  John  Van¬ 
dyke,  Amos  J.  Perry,  V’.  David  Bovard  and  John  H.  Hogg. 


NORTH  WASHINGTON 


The  world  is  in  constant  transition.  Human  foresight  therefore  is 
limited.  Counter  movements  appear  and  modify  men’s  plans  and 
efforts.  The  same  is  true  in  religious  affairs.  In  1865  Mt.  Varnum 
United  Presbyterian  Congregation  was  planning  to  build  a  new  house 
of  worship  on  the  old  location  three-fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  the 
village  of  North  Washington.  Mr.  Robert  A.  Mifflin,  a  merchant  of 
the  village  and  a  member  of  Concord  Presbyterian  Church,  urged  the 
leaders  of  the  congregation  to  build  in  the  village  and  promised  financial 
help  for  the  new  project.  But  attachment  for  the  old  location  and  its 
graveyard  induced  the  congregation  to  decline  the  generous  offer. 
Sentiment  prevailed  over  business  insight  for  the  change  would  have 
precluded  any  occasion  for  a  Presbyterian  organization  in  the  com¬ 
munity. 

The  idea  did  not  perish  from  the  originator’s  mind.  It  continued 
to  live  in  his  thoughts  and  opportune  conversations  for  nearly  fifteen 
years  until  he  found  an  ardent  and  active  supporter  in  Mrs.  Harriet 
L.  Dickson,  a  teacher  in  the  North  Washington  Institute.  The  usual 
objections  were  raised  against  increasing  the  financial  burden  of  the 
community  but  these  were  not  considered  sufficient  to  those  most  inter¬ 
ested  in  the  movement.  Presbytery  approved  their  petition  for  the 
organization  of  a  church  and  “Rev.  Messrs.  S.  M.  Glenn,  James  IT 
Marshall  and  I.  D.  Decker  and  Elder  J.  W.  Anderson  were  appointed 
to  organize  the  church.”  On  May  18,  1880,  the  committee  met  the 
petitioners  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  enrolled  twenty-five  members,  all 
by  certificate,  namely:  Robert  D.  Crawford  from  the  First  L  nited 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Mercer;  Mrs.  Harriet  L.  Dickson  from  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  West  Sunburv;  Robert  A.  Mifflin,  Mrs.  Cath¬ 
erine  E.  Mifflin,  Sarah  Halderman,  James  II.  Mechling,  Mrs.  Mary 
M  echling,  Mrs.  Polly  Mechling,  Maggie  Mechling,  Andrew  J.  Jack, 
M  rs.  M  ary  A.  Jack,  Mrs.  Carrie  Craig,  James  Christy,  Mrs.  Mary 
Christy,  Sarah  Ellen  Christy,  Mrs.  D.  F.  Campbell  from  the  Concord 
Presbyterian  Church;  William  P.  Mechling,  Mrs.  Clara  C.  Mechling, 
Samuel  A.  Campbell,  Mrs.  Hannah  Campbell,  Albert  C.  Campbell, 
Mrs.  Annie  E.  Campbell,  William  H.  Redic,  Mrs.  Mary  Glenn,  and 
W  illiam  Emery  from  the  New  Salem  Presbyterian  Church. 

Robert  A.  Mifflin,  William  P.  Mechling  and  Robert  D.  Crawford 
were  elected  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder.  Mr.  Crawford  was  ordained 
and  with  the  others  who  had  served  elsewhere,  was  installed. 

The  young  congregation  w'ent  to  work  with  a  will.  On  June  11, 
1880  it  presented  a  call  for  one-fourth  of  the  time  of  Rev.  T.  M. 
Thompson  in  connection  with  New  Salem  and  Martinsburg  and  he 
was  installed  later.  Rev  I.  D.  Decker  preached  the  sermon;  Rev. 


160 


James  Marshall  presided  and  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and 
Rev.  }.  R.  Coulter  delivered  the  charge  to  the  people. 

The  congregation  heartily  cooperated  with  the  educational  program 
of  the  North  W  ashington  Institute  and  gave  it  loyal  and  financial  sup¬ 
port  until  the  High  School  Law  for  Townships  established  High  Schools 
in  the  surrounding  region  and  compelled  the  Institute  to  place  its  prop¬ 
erty  and  work  in  the  hands  of  the  Township  School  Authorities.  W  hile 
some  still  regret  that  this  step  was  necessary,  the  High  School  has  pros¬ 
pered  and  has  had  efficient  teachers. 

The  church  has  shown  a  steady  and  substantial  growth  and  for  a 
number  of  years  led  the  Presbytery  in  the  average  gifts  for  the  Boards. 
In  March,  1895,  seventeen  were  received  on  examination  and  in  June 

and  October,  1896,  fourteen 
members  of  the  Mt.  Varnum 
United  Presbyterian  Church 
were  a  very  substantial  addi¬ 
tion  to  the  spiritual  strength 
and  activity  of  the  congrega¬ 
tion.  In  1904,  1906,  1911 
and  1912.  there  were  ingath¬ 
erings  upon  confession.  Since 
the  organization  was  effected 
413  names  have  been  placed 
on  the  roll  by  examination 
and  by  certificate.  The  true 
work  of  this  church  has  been 
manifested  in  two  ways:  In 
the  spiritual  ideals  and 
Christian  virtues  inculcated 
and  the  financial  aid  given  to 
the  church  at  home  and 
across  the  seas.  In  each  of  these  regards  this  church  has  an  enviable 
record. 

Three  of  the  twenty-five  members  on  May  18,  1880,  still  survive, 
viz.,  Mrs.  Sarah  Hoover,  nee  Halderman,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Jack  and 
Mrs.  Carrie  Craig. 

In  1903  the  congregation  built  a  manse  costing  with  outbuildings 
more  than  three  thousand  dollars  in  which  the  New  Salem  Congregation 

O  o 

bore  a  part. 

The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  formation  of  the  church  was 
appropriately  observed  May  18,  1905.  Mr.  T.  P.  Mifflin  delivered  a 
“Historical  Address;”  Dr.  O.  P.  Pisor  spoke  on  the  “Place  and  Work 
of  the  Sabbath  School;”  Rev.  W.  H.  Sloan  had  for  his  subject  “The 


161 


Church  as  a  Missionary  Force,”  and  Rev.  E.  R.  Worrell  delivered  an 
address  on  “John  Knox.’ 

James  M.  Thompson,  son  of  Elder  I.  N.  Thompson  became  a  Pres¬ 
byterian  minister. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Thomas  M.  Thompson,  1880-1882;  Rev.  William  J.  Hazlett, 
1883-1894;  Rev.  R.  L.  Alter,  Ph.  D„  1894-1903;  Rev.  W.  S.  McNees, 
D.  D.,  1903-. 

North  Washington  and  New  Salem  Churches  have  been  central 
in  all  these  pastorates  and  only  in  the  existing  pastorate  have  they 
stood  alone.  In  the  first  pastorate  Martinsburg  shared;  in  the  second 
Allegheny  was  attached  and  in  the  third  Concord  united  with  them. 


ELDERS 

Robert  A.  Mifflin.  W.  Perry  Mechling,  Robert  D.  Crawford,,  James 
Christy,  James  C.  Donaldson,  Clinton  B.  Conway,  Oliver  P.  Pisor,  M. 
D.,  Isaac  N.  Thompson  and  Isaac  T.  Wade. 

Present  Elders :  John  B.  Arner,  John  C.  Christy,  Joseph  M.  Mas- 
lett,  John  M.  Blair,  and  G.  Curtis  Wray. 

NORTH  LIBERTY 

Man  is  a  moral  and  religious  being.  Education  of  these  capabili¬ 
ties  is  of  first  importance  to  every  human  being.  It  is  more  essential 
than  the  training  of  the  intellect  or  the  hands  because  it  meets  and 
satisfies  the  deepest  cravings  of  the  soul  both  in  time  and  in  eternity. 
I  he  organization  of  a  church  to  supply  religious  instruction  and  train¬ 
ing  for  a  community  is  an  event  of  highest  importance.  It  is  a  cause 
for  rejoicing  when  people  realize  their  need  and  are  voluntarily  will¬ 
ing  to  unite  to  maintain  a  house  of  worship  and  religious  teaching. 
Often  there  are  other  cogent  reasons  that  justify  another  church  as 
truly  as  a  new  school.  T  his  was  especially  true  of  the  village  of  North 
Liberty  and  vicinity. 

April  1  1,  1834,  petitions  were  presented  to  Presbytery  from  Center¬ 
ville  and  North  Liberty  asking  for  an  organization  of  a  church  in  each 
place.  Though  these  villages  are  only  two  and  one-half  miles  apart, 
Presbytery  appointed  a  “committee  to  organize  these  churches  on  the 
18th  instant  if  the  way  be  clear.”  The  committee  reported  at  the  June 
meeting  of  Presbytery  that  “they  had  organized  the  church  at  Center¬ 
ville  and  the  congregation  of  North  Liberty.”  This  is  the  last  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  organization  of  a  congregation  in  the  minutes  of  Presby- 
terv.  How  long  this  congregational  organization  continued  or  how 
useful  it  was  to  the  people  there  is  no  record. 

The  distance  that  members  traveled  to  Centerville — now  Slippery 


162 


Rock — Plain  Grove  and  Center  Churches  and  the  further  fact  that  the 
occasional  religious  services  conducted  in  the  school  house  by  sur¬ 
rounding  pastors  was  highly  appreciated  by  the  villagers  who  had  no 
means  of  conveyance  to  any  church  nurtured  the  hope  of  a  church 
at  that  central  point.  Sixteen  years  after  the  first  effort  a  new  peti¬ 
tion  was  signed  and  presented  to  the  Butler  Presbytery  April  27,  1880. 
The  petition  was  approved  and  Revs.  Robert  B.  Walker,  D.  17.,  Samuel 
Williams,  James  PI.  Marshall  and  Elder  11.  H.  Vincent  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  meet  the  petitioners  and  if  the  way  be  clear,  to  organize 
a  church. 

The  organization  was  effected  June  21,  1880,  when  seventy-four 
persons  presented  letters  of  dismission.  The  name  of  North  Liberty 
Presbyterian  Church  was  adopted  by  the  congregation.  Messrs  Levi 
Dale,  A.  S.  Barber  and  John  Boyles  were  selected  as  Ruling  Elders. 
Mr.  Boyles  was  ordained  and  installed  with  the  two  who  had  served  in 
other  churches. 

On  February  17,  1881,  the  congregation  dedicated  its  house  of  wor¬ 
ship  to  the  Glory  of  God.  Rev.  W.  ].  McConkey  preached  the  sermon 
based  on  Deuteronomy  32:7.  Rev.  James  A.  Menaul  offered  the 
prayer  of  dedication.  1  he  congregation  was  united  with  the  Center¬ 
ville  (Slippery  Rock)  Church  for  pastoral  care. 

By  action  of  the  Session  October  13,  1882,  the  Monday  Service 
following  the  communion  was  discontinued.  This  was  one  of  the  last 
congregations  to  set  aside  this  old  custom.  The  advanced  views  of 
the  Session  in  temperance  matters  is  exhibited  by  the  minutes  of  Feb¬ 
ruary  2,  1884,  when  it  ap¬ 
pointed  "Elder  Andrew 
Breckenridge  to  confer  with 
the  Centerville  (Slippery 
Rock)  Session  in  regard  to 
securing  a  quantity  of  un¬ 
fermented  wine  for  commun¬ 
ion  occasions.”  Nor  did  the 
Session  hesitate  to  cite  a 
member  who  had  engaged  in 
the  saloon  business  in  a 
neighboring  state. 

The  twenty-fifth  anniver¬ 
sary  of  the  organization  was 
appropriately  observed  June 
21,  1905,  and  the  Presbytery 
honored  the  occasion  by  its 
presence. 

The  individual  cup  was 


163 


first  used  at  a  communion  service  June  11,  1911,  and  with  increasing 
satisfaction. 

This  church  had  little  internal  difficulty  and  in  many  respects  is 
an  ideal  rural  congregation.  Its  growth  has  been  quiet  and  sub¬ 
stantial.  Several  times  have  there  been  seasons  of  refreshing.  .  In  the 
winter  of  1885  thirty  new  members  were  received  and  ten  years  later 
thirty-six  were  enrolled.  This  church  has  the  unique  privilege  of  being 
united  for  pastoral  care  with  each  of  the  three  congregations  con¬ 
tributing  charter  members.  At  present  it  is  associated  with  Center 
Church. 

Three  ministers — two  brothers — R.  Curtis  and  George  P.  Stewart 
and  their  cousin.  Leon  Stewart,  were  reared  in  this  congregation. 

The  church  was  supplied  jointly  by  Rev.  James  A.  Menaul  and 
Rev.  Robert  McCaslin  for  a  year  from  January  1,  1881. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  James  H.  Wright,  1882-1887;  Rev.  Jesse  L.  Cotton,  1889- 
1893;  Rev.  Arthur  Stewart,  1894-1903;  Rev.  James  D.  Humphrey, 
1904-1907;  Rev.  F.  Benton  Shoemaker,  1907-1911;  Rev.  Silas  C.  Elder, 
191 2-. 

Levi  Dale,  A.  Stewart  Barber,  John  Boyles,  Andrew  Breckenridge, 
James  Tharp,  W.  Alexander  Hanna,  T.  M.  Forest,  G.  D.  Foster,  Joseph 
E.  Seth,  John  Sailes. 

Present  Session:  John  B.  Campbell,  W.  A.  Tinker,  David  W. 
Smith,  N.  Frank  Barber,  Edward  E.  Elder  and  Everett  W.  Moore. 

EVANS  CITY 

The  pioneer  churches  were  located  near  the  main  routes  of  travel. 
This  was  before  the  counties  were  divided  into  townships  with  a  cen¬ 
trally  located  village.  As  the  villages  attracted  tradesmen  they  became 
social  and  business  centers  and  exerted  a  strong  influence  on  the  older 
churches.  As  the  population  increased  many  village  dwellers  had  no 
way  of  attending  the  church  except  by  walking  and  this  created  a  need 
for  more  churches.  Notably  was  this  true  in  regard  to  Evansburg, 
now  Evans  City.  Many  of  the  members  of  the  Plains  Church  resided 
in  Evansburg  and  vicinity  and  the  generosity  of  the  Plains  Session  is 
shown  toward  their  fellow  worshippers  in  the  following  minutes: 
“Session  met  at  the  home  of  James  Sutton,,  October  15,  1877,  and  after 
full  and  free  discussion  of  all  the  interests  involved  it  was  resolved  to 
establish  a  praise  and  prayer  meeting  on  Sabbath  evenings  at  Evans¬ 
burg.  R.  A.  W  hite  and  James  Sutton  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
secure  a  building  for  such  services.”  The  minute  for  January  4,  1878, 
has  a  significant  statement  of  progress:  “Preaching  services  in  the 
Baptist  Church  part  of  next  week.”  After  about  three  years  Rev. 


164 


Gilbert  M.  Putter,  who  was 
serving  as  Stated  Supply  of 
Plains  Church,  preached  al¬ 
ternate  Sabbath  evenings  in 
the  Evansburg  School  Mouse 
for  nearly  a  year.  A  church 
seemed  a  prime  necessity,  so 
on  February  19,  1883,  a 
church  consisting  of  thirty- 
nine  members  who  brought 
letters  from  the  Plains  Church:  viz.,  William  Dunbar,  Margaret  Dun¬ 
bar,  Andrew  Boggs,  James  Boggs,  James  Sutton,  Dorcas  Sutton,  Alva 
Sutton.  Lizzie  Sutton,  B.  F.  White,  Clara  B.  White,  Lottie  B.  White, 
W.  R.  X  esbit.  Laura  D.  Xesbit.  Solomon  Stamm,  Euphemia  Stamm, 
William  Irvin,  M.  D.,  Elizabeth  Irvin.  Anna  Irvin,  Henrietta  Irvin, 
S.  John  Irvin,  Maggie  Irvin,  Lizzie  Gelbach,  Daniel  Barto,  Lizzie  Barto, 
Mary  B.  Dunbar,  Thomas  W.  Boggs,  Calvin  West,  Emily  West,  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  Boggs,  Elmira  Boggs,  Henry  Behm  and  Selinda  Behm,  was 
organized  by  the  Church  Extension  Committee  of  Allegheny  Presbytery. 
I  he  members  of  this  committee  were  Dr.  E.  E.  Swift,  Rev.  R.  S.  Yan- 
Cleve.  Rev.  G.  M.  Potter,  and  Rev.  E.  Ogden,  of  Butler  Presbytery. 
The  first  Elders  were  Thomas  W.  Boggs,  Andrew  Boggs,  James  Sutton 
and  R.  A.  White.  A  building  committee  appointed  in  1882,  composed 
of  R.  A.  White,  B.  F.  White,  James  Sutton,  and  James  Boggs,  erected 
a  frame  church  costing  81,800  and  seating  275  people  on  a  lot  donated 
by  James  Sutton.  The  church  was  dedicated  on  the  first  Sabbath  in 
January,  1883.  by  Dr.  E.  E.  Swift  and  Rev.  G.  M.  Potter. 

Rev.  G.  M.  Potter  continued  to  supply  the  church  from  its  organ¬ 
ization  until  April  1,  1893,  but  also  cared  for  the  church  until  it  received 
its  first  pastor  in  Septembei,  1894.  It  was  during  Rev.  Potter’s  pas¬ 
torate,  January  10,  1889,  that  a  Sabbath  School  and  Mission  was  organ¬ 
ized  to  supply  religious  services  for  a  number  of  families  of  the  Glade 
Run  oil  field.  A  preaching  service  was  conducted  there  also  on  alternate 
Sabbath  evenings.  I  he  Mission  flourished  until  there  were  about 
thirty  members  of  the  church  in  the  vicinity.  The  Mission  was  discon¬ 
tinued  when  many  of  the  workers  in  the  oil  fields  moved  to  newer  oil 
fields. 

Dr.  William  M.  Taylor  conducted  evangelistic  services  in  the 
church  February  16-20,  1894,  and  eighteen  persons  were  received  on 
examination. 

The  church  being  in  Butler  County,  Butler  Presbytery  requested 
its  transfer,  which  was  completed  June  14,  1898. 


165 


MINISTERS 


Rev.  Gilbert  M.  Potter,  S.  S.,  1883-1893;  Rev.  J.  M.  Thompson, 
1894-1896;  Rev.  Thomas  R.  Lewis,  1898-1906;  Rev.  Angus  J.  Maclnnis, 
1910-1912;  Rev.  George  C.  Muller,  1912-1913;  Rev.  J.  Harris  Moore, 
1914-1915;  Rev.  Hugh  S.  Shaw,  1916-1919;  Rev.  \Y.  Lamont  McMillan. 
1920-. 

ELDERS 

Thomas  \Y.  Boggs,  Andrew  Boggs,  James  Sutton,  Robert  A.  White. 
William  Irvine,  M.  D.,  Greer  McCandless,  James  P.  Boggs,  Prof.  M. 
A.  Sutton,  Andrew  Wible,  Hugh  McClelland,  Samuel  David,  Samuel  0. 
Blair,  Leander  M.  Wise.  The  Rotary  System  of  Elders  seems  to  have 
been  adopted  November  8,  1908,  and  continued  until  February  19,  1913. 
During  this  period  Messrs  James  Boggs,  William  S.  Stewart,  Samuel 
O.  Blair,  William  C.  Douglass,  Samuel  H.  Hill,  Fred  Peffer,  Solomon 
Stamm  and  William  Allen  served  the  church.  When  the  Permanent 
System  was  restored  James  P.  Boggs,  Samuel  Hill,  William  Stewart, 
Fred  Peffer,  Solomon  Stamm  and  James  Davis  were  chosen.  W.  L. 
McKisson  and  Glenn  Russell  were  added  later. 

Present  Session :  James  P.  Boggs,  Fred  Peffer,  William  Stewart, 
James  Davis  and  George  Cole. 

PROSPECT 

About  1840  pioneer  ministers  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  made  their  way  into  Western  Pennsylvania.  Their  modified 
view  of  Election  and  Predestination  appealed  to  many  who  were  not 
at  ease  on  these  points.  Four  churches,  Prospect,  West  Liberty',  Little 
Scrubgrass  (kennerdell)  and  Irwin,  were  organized  within  the  present 
bounds  of  Butler  Presbytery.  These  churches  formed  two  pastoral 
charges  and  all  except  West  Liberty'  still  form  an  essential  working 
force  of  Presbytery. 

The  origin  of  the  Prospect  Church  is  completely'  hidden  from  pry¬ 
ing  eyes  for  no  records  survive.  This  knowledge  perished  when  its 
founders  were  gathered  to  their  fathers.  It  is  almost  certain  that  the 
earliest  Cumberland  minister  to  preach  in  Prospect  was  the  eloquent 
Rev.  A.  M.  Bryan  in  about  1845.  Among  those  that  gathered  around 
him  were  Dr.  D.  H.  Brower,  Samuel  Hoon,  James  Hays,  John  Shearer, 
Robert  Scott,  John  A.  Dickey7,  Samuel  Hays,  Enos  McLure  and  Thomas 
Critchlow  and  their  families.  One  may  plant,  others  water  but  only 
the  Lord  gives  the  increase.  Far  more  important  is  the  record  of  the 
loyal  worshipers,  the  faithful  shepherds  and  the  growth  attained  in 
Christian  virtues,  character  and  influence.  Like  the  Roman  Centurian 
who  built  a  synagogue  as  evidence  of  religious  interest  Mr.  Critchlow, 
whom  God  had  prospered  as  a  merchant,  built  a  house  of  worship  for 


166 


the  glory  of  God.  This  is  a  solitary  example  of  such  love  and  devotion 
in  the  religious  history  of  this  country.  In  this  house  he  rendered 
ardent  worship,  performed  every  form  of  duty  and  when  there  was  no 
pastor  he  led  the  srvice,  reading  a  sermon  with  dignity  and  power. 
As  long  as  the  brick  building  erected  in  1850  stands  it  will  be  a  living 
witness  to  the  life,  love  and  modesty  of  this  humble  follower  of  the 
lowly  Nazarene.  The  church  w  as  never  strong  in  members  or  financial 
ability  and  yet  it  has  had  a  worthy  mission. 

Rev.  Joseph  A.  Bowman  was  its  first  pastor,  beginning  his  labor 
about  1850.  In  1863  he  became  the  chaplain  of  the  Roundhead  Regi¬ 
ment  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  minis¬ 
tered  to  his  flock  for  about  two  years,  when  he  was  followed  by  Revs. 
J.  M.  Gallagher,  J.  F.  Wall,  J.  I\.  Norris,  J.  R.  Morris,  Samuel  Bow¬ 
man.  V  .  F.  Silveus  and  R.  I .  Grossman. 


Messrs.  T.  J.  Critchlowx  J.  L.  Wilson  and  J.  B.  Kaler,  Commission¬ 
ers  of  the  Prospect  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  presented  a  paper 
to  Butler  Presbytery  June  21,  1887,  “expressing  a  desire  of  this  church 
to  be  received  under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery  and  to  be  united  with 
Presbyterians  in  and  near  Prospect  in  a  church  organization.”  The 
request  was  granted  after  a  careful  consideration  of  all  the  issues  in¬ 
volved  and  Rev.  Samuel  Williams,  Rev.  W.  E.  Oiler  and  Elder  R.  I. 
Boggs  were  appointed  to  organize  a  church  at  Prospect  before  the  next 
meeting  of  Presbytery. 

The  committee  met  the  petitioners  July  8,  1887,  and  organized  them 
into  a  church  consisting  of  seventy  members,  thirty-six  Cumberland 
Presbyterians,  twenty-six  were  from  the  Mt.  Nebo  Church,  six  from 
other  churches  and  two  by  examination.  Eight  elders  were  selected: 
John  Martin,  John  Weigle,  Elliot  Robb,  John  Cratty,  G.  W.  Steven¬ 
son,  J.  D.  Wilson,  T.  J.  Critchlow  and  W.  E.  Henshaw.  These  having 


167 


served  in  other  congregations  were  installed  in  the  new  organization, 
which  adopted  the  name  used  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
This  was  a  wise  and  happy  consolidation  of  Presbyterian  interests.  It 
was  a  mutual  federation  and  the  pioneer  of  later  efforts.  It  was  also  the 
harbinger  of  the  Union  and  Reunion  of  the  two  bodies  in  1906.  The 
harmony  and  fellowship  of  the  new  organization  has  been  mutually 
pleasant  and  efficient.  The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  seven¬ 
teen. 

PASTORS 

Rev.  Watson  J.  Young,  1890-1893;  Rev.  Melzar  D.  McClelland, 
1895-1897;  Rev.  Wilson  H.  Sloan,  1898-1903;  Rev.  George  P.  Stewart, 
1904-1907;  Rev.  Charles  S.  McKinney,  1911-1917;  Rev.  G.  J.  Timblin, 
S.  S.,  1917-. 

ELDERS 

John  Martin,  John  Weigle,  Elliot  Robb,  John  Cratty,  G.  W.  Stev¬ 
enson,  J.  D.  Wilson,  T.  J.  Critchlow,  W.  E.  Henshaw,  John  Croft,  Jr., 
and  George  S.  Eluselton. 

Members  of  the  Present  Session:  W.  E.  Pyle,  James  Young,  G.  C. 
McCullough,  Frank  P.  Critchlow,  Thomas  Critchlow,  Ira  Kennedy  and 
William  E.  Percy. 

CRESTVIEW 

Rev.  Rudolph  C.  Yates,  the  Pastor  of  Zelienople  Presbyterian 
Church,  was  supplying  the  Plains  Church  in  June,  1885,  and  this  rela¬ 
tion  was  continued  until  October,  1888.  At  a  congregational  meeting 
on  that  date  Rev.  Yates’  name  was  proposed  for  the  pastorate.  Fifty 
votes  were  cast  in  favor  of  Rev.  Yates  and  forty-four  were  registered 
in  the  negative.  This  action  of  the  congregation  highly  displeased 
Rev.  Yates  and  his  ardent  supporters.  Shortly  afterward  Rev.  Yates 
began  to  preach  at  Callery  Junction,  which  Plains  considered  a  part  of 
its  parish.  The  Session  at  Plains  regarded  the  conduct  of  Rev.  Yates 
as  revengeful  after  he  failed  to  be  chosen  as  pastor.  His  strongest 
sympathizers  only  strengthened  this  view  for  they  became  attendants  at 
the  services  at  Callery  Junction  and  neglected  their  relation  and  duty 
to  Plains.  The  sentiment  of  the  Plains  Session  is  expressed  in  the 
minutes  of  February  23,  1889,  when  it  appointed  “James  Thompson, 
John  Goehring  and  J.  M.  Covert  to  visit  certain  members  who  were 
neglecting  the  ordinances  of  the  sanctuary.”  The  minute  of  June  22, 
1890,  is  "John  Rowan  was  chosen  as  delegate  to  attend  the  Presbytery 
at  Allegheny  City  and  state  the  facts  in  regard  to  the  efforts  being  made 
to  organize  a  church  at  Callery  Junction,  which  we  believe  to  be  in 
the  bounds  of  Plains  Church.”  Leaders  of  the  Allegheny  Presbytery 
realizing  that  Callery  Junction  was  clearly  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
Butler  Presbytery  and  that  Plains  was  only  temporarily  under  the 


168 


care  of  Allegheny  Presbyter}', 
declined  to  interfere.  It  must 
be  remembered  in  this  connec¬ 
tion  that  the  salary  of  Rev. 
Yates  at  Zelienople  was  only 
$450,  and  supply  work  seemed 
necessary  when  the  door  was 
closed  for  him  at  Plains. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbv- 
tery  of  Butler  July  29,  1890,  a 
motion  “to  consider  the  matter  of  organizing  a  church  at  Gallery  junc¬ 
tion  and  to  take  such  steps  pertaining  thereto  as  may  be  deemed  best, 
was  entertained.  Fleming  \\  est,  Frederick  McNeill  and  Nicol  Allen  stat¬ 
ed  in  their  judgment  a  church  ought  to  be  organized,  and  after  some  dis¬ 
cussion  the  motion  was  adopted.  Rev.  Messrs.  E.  Ogden,  \\  .  E.  Oiler,  L. 
E.  Keith  and  Elders  James  D.  Anderson  and  James  El.  Graham  were 
appointed  to  meet  the  petitioners  at  Callery  on  the  20th  day  of  August 
at  1  P.  M.  and  if  the  way  be  clear  to  organize  a  church.  At  the  time 
appointed,  the  committee  organized  a  church,  which  was  named  Crest- 
view.  The  Session  of  Plains  graciously  yielded  and  “dismissed  August 
10th,  twenty-seven  of  its  members  to  enter  the  proposed  organization, 
viz,  John  Staples,  Mrs.  Mandana  Staples,  Joseph  West,  Mrs.  Maria 
West,  Fleming  West,  Mrs.  Margaret  West,  Ida  West,  Mary  West, 
Andrew  West,  Annie  L.  West,  Seth  P.  Staples,  Nicol  Allan,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Allan,  Annas  Metz,  Mrs.  Mary  Metz,  Alfred  Richardson,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Richardson,  Mrs.  Sarah  Richardson,  Annie  Richardson, 
Joseph  Davis,  Mrs.  Jane  Davis,  John  Vandivoort,  Alfred  Yandivoort 
and  Tillie  Goehring.  Two  members  each  were  received  from  the 
Evans  City  and  the  Union  U.  P.  Churches  and  one  upon  examination. 

John  Staples,  Fleming  West  and  Cyrus  Flail  were  the  first  Elders 
of  the  new  organization.  Rev.  R.  C.  Yates  was  Stated  Supply  from  its 
organization  to  his  death,  August  3,  1896,  resulting  from  blood  poison 
in  a  wound  received  by  a  mowing  machine.  Since  the  death  of  Rev. 
Yates  the  mother  and  daughter  churches  have  been  united  under  the 
same  pastor  and  have  prospered  in  the  Lord’s  work.  The  church 
building  was  completed  and  the  congregation  rejoiced  when  it  was 
dedicated  to  the  Glory  of  God  June  14,  1891,  and  free  of  debt.  Presi¬ 
dent  Isaac  C.  Ketler,  of  Grove  City  College,  preached  the  sermon  on 
this  happy  occasion. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Rudolph  C.  hates,  S.  S.,  1890-1896;  Rev.  Flenrv  E.  Snyder, 
1897-1899;  Rev.  John  Waite,  1902-1907;  Rev.  Elbert  Hefner,  S.  S., 
1907-1908;  Rev.  Plummer  R.  Harvey,  1908-1913;  Rev.  John  H.  Moore, 


169 


1914-1915;  Rev.  Hugh  S.  Shaw,  S.  S.  and  P.,  1916-1919;  Rev.  W. 
Lamont  McMillan,  1920-. 

ELDERS 

John  Staples,  Cyrus  W.  Hall,  William  B.  Scott,  James  M.  Little^ 
William  Metz,  and  Roy  Croft. 

Present  Session :  Fleming  West,  Charles  W.  Kiser,  John  E. 
Leise,  Stewart  E.  Dunbar  and  Samuel  C.  Miller. 

MILL  BROOK 

Great  decisions  and  divisions  often  lie  hidden  in  small  things.  It 
seemed  necessary  for  the  Amity  congregation  to  erect  a  new  house  of 
worship  but  a  radical  difference  of  opinion  developed  in  regard  to  the 
location  for  the  new  building.  The  parish  stretched  about  six  miles 
along  the  Mercer  and  Scrubgrass  road.  The  Amity  church  is  located 
near  this  road  about  one  and  one-half  miles  from  the  eastern  border  of 
the  parish.  The  families  living  four  miles  west  of  the  old  location 
asked  their  brethren  to  change  to  a  more  central  place  about 
a  mile  west  of  the  old  site  and  on  the  same  highway.  This  proposal 
was  strongly  opposed  by  those  favoring  the  old  site.  Besides  they 
could  not  bring  themselves  to  desert  the  nearby  city  of  the  dead  to 
which  they  were  greatly  attached.  Sentiment  prevailed  and  the  plea 
of  the  deserving  fellow  worshipers  was  unheeded.  Preparations  went 
forward  to  secure  a  new  building. 

Denied  what  seemed  a  just  claim  the  extreme  western  end  of  the 
congregation  presented  a  petition  to  the  Presbytery  of  Butler  April  22r 
1890,  asking  that  Presbytery  organize  a  church  in  the  village  of  Center- 
town.  Amity  protested  that  this  location  would  be  too  near  the  mother 
church.  After  hearing  both  sides  fully  Presbytery  resolved  “to  ap¬ 
point  a  committee  of  four  persons  to  investigate  the  matter  relating  to 
the  proposed  organization  and  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presby¬ 
tery.  Rev.  W.  M.  Hays,  pastor  of  Amity  Church  was  permitted  to 
preach  in  the  meantime  at  Centertown  and  Millbrook,  a  part  of  the 
time  to  which  Amity  is  entitled,  as  well  as  at  the  old  Amity  Church. 
Also  the  Amity  congregation  was  requested  to  suspend  building  opera¬ 
tions  until  the  case  was  decided.  Rev.  Messrs.  W.  J.  McConkey,  W. 
J.  Hazlett  and  Elders  R.  C.  Craig,  and  R.  A.  Mifflin  were  appointed 
to  constitute  the  committee.’’  This  committee  reported  “that  Amity 
congregation  was  proceeding  with  the  building  of  the  new  church  on 
the  old  site  and  that  the  petitioners  were  still  persisting  in  their  efforts 
to  secure  an  organization  at  Centertown.”  A  new  committee  was  ap¬ 
pointed  “to  investigate  the  matter  as  to  whether  the  new  church  should 
be  at  Centertown  or  Millbrook  if  an  organization  is  granted  at  either 
place,  and  report  at  the  fall  meeting.”  The  new  committee  consisted 


170 


of  Rev.  Messrs.  McConkey,  Hazlett,  Cotton  and  Reed  and  Elders 
R.  A.  Mifflin.  R.  C.  Craig,  J.  T.  Bingham  and  John  Pollock.  This 
committee  recommended  “that  in  case  an  organization  being  granted 
the  church  building  shall  be  locateci  at  the  cross  roads  about  one  mile 
west  of  Centertown.”  This  was  a  compromise  decision  and  unfavor¬ 
able  to  the  petitioners  at  the  time.  The  petitioners  urged  that  the  or¬ 
ganization  be  effected  and  Presbytery  appointed  “Rev.  W.  J.  Mc¬ 
Conkey,  Rev.  W.  J.  Hazlett  and  Rev.  A.  M.  Reed  with  Elders  R.  C. 
Craig  and  Samuel  McCune  to  organize  a  church  in  that  community  at 
the  earliest  convenience  if  the  way  be  dear. 

This  committee  fulfilled  its  duty  October  7,  1890  in  the  Union  Hall 
in  Millbrook.  The  new  organization  assumed  the  name  of  New  Reho- 
both  and  consisted  of  the  following  members  from  the  Amity  Church: 
M  rs.  Mary  Coleman,  Estella  Coleman.  Jason  G.  Coleman,  Robert  J. 
Coleman.  Oliver  C.  Redic,  Sarah  E.  Turner,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Turner, 
David  Turner,  Anna  Milford,  Mary  E.  Milford,  B.  F.  Milford,  A.  F. 
Milford,  John  B.  Montgomery,  Helen  Montgomery,  Thomas  N.  Mont¬ 
gomery,  John  C.  Montgomery,  Mary  A.  Montgomery,  Jessie  A.  Mont¬ 
gomery,  Emeline  C.  Montgomery,  W.  C.  Montgomery,  Rebecca  A. 
Montgomery,  Clara  Montgomery,  Henry  E.  Montgomery,  John  N. 
burner,  John  W.  Montgomery,  Mary  J.  White,  Lettie  Campbell,  Frank 
G.  Campbell,  L.  C.  Fleming,  Mary  M.  Fleming,  Emma  Fleming, 
I  horn  as  C.  Fleming,  Jannette  Fleming,  Sadie  P.  Crawford  and  Effie 
Milford. 

I  he  congregation  chose  John  B.  Montgomery,  John  C.  Mont¬ 
gomery  and  Robert  J.  Coleman  for  Ruling  Elders.  The  last  two  were 
ordained  and  all  were  installed  by  the  committee. 

I  he  congregation  continued  to  worship  in  the  Union  Hall  in  Mill- 
brook  as  the  location  approved  by  the  Presbytery  was  never  satisfactory 
to  the  people.  The  Wesleyan  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  only 
church  in  the  village,  being  about  to  disband,  gave  substantial  encour- 


/ 


agement  to  the  new  congregation  to  build  in  Millbrook.  After  con¬ 
ferring  on  the  matter  the  congregation  sent  Elder  R.  J.  Coleman  with 
a  petition  containing  twenty-six  signatures  to  Presbytery  to  request  per¬ 
mission  to  change  the  location  of  the  church  building.  The  request 
was  promptly  granted  and  the  congregation  proceeded  to  erect  a  house 
of  worship  which  was  completed  in  1893  at  a  cost  of  $3,700  including 
the  labor  donated  and  the  pulpit  and  pews  of  the  Karns  City  Church 
donated  by  Presbytery.  April  25,  1898,  Presbytery  approved  the  change 
of  the  church  name  from  New  Rehoboth  to  Millbrook  to  correspond  to 
the  name  of  the  village. 

In  1906  a  manse  was  purchased  for  $1000  in  equal  shares  by  the 
congregations  in  the  pastorate — Millbrook,  Irwin  and  Amity. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  John  A.  Courtney,  S.  S.,  1891-1901;  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Gray, 
1903-1906;  Rev.  John  A.  James,  1907-1914;  Rev.  William  G.  Alter, 
1915-1918;  Rev.  Melzar  D.  McClelland,  Ph.  D.,  1919-1921;  Rev. 
William  H.  Nicholson,  1922-. 

ELDERS 

John  B.  Montgomery,  John  C.  Montgomery,  James  Davidson, 
I  homas  C.  Fleming  and  Howard  Montgomery. 

Present  Session:  R.  Julius  Coleman.  Roy  E.  Perrine,  Hiram 
Feather  and  William  Helm. 


LISBON 

I  his  church  has  had  a  long  and  unusual  history.  Its  families  are 

o  j 

descendants  of  those  pioneers  who  gathered  from  hill  and  dale  in  1800 
and  covenanted  to  worship  God  according  to  the  rules  and  regulations 
of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church  of  North  America.  Such  har¬ 
mony  prevailed  that  the  name  Unity  was  chosen  for  the  church.  Its 
first  house  of  worship  was  a  small  building  of  round  logs  erected  near 
where  “the  Brick  Church”  known  as  the  East  Unity  United  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  stands.  I  his  building  was  without  floor  or  fireplace  and 
had  only  logs  for  seats.  It  was  associated  with  Harmony  Church  west 
of  Harrisville  under  the  same  pastor  for  years.  In  1858  the  Associate 
Presbyterian  and  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  Churches  united, 
forming  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  The  discussion  connected 
with  the  proposed  union  became  so  acute  in  the  Unity  congregation 
that  a  division  resulted.  Many  of  the  older,  stricter  and  more  conser¬ 
vative  members  preferred  the  beliefs  of  their  fathers  and  separated 
from  brethren  with  whom  they  had  worshiped  for  almost  sixty  years. 
The  lines  were  so  clearly  and  sharply  drawn  that  often  an  unfriendly 
spirit  was  manifested.  The  dispute  over  the  ownership  of  the  property 
only  intensified  the  animosity.  Finally  those  who  separated  built  a 


frame  house  of  worship  across  the  road  from  the  present  Brick  Church 
feeling  that  they  were  consistent  and  justified  in  having  no  dealings 
with  their  neighbors  over  the  way.  I  ime  mollified  this  spirit  but  still 
the  conservative  members  gathered  here  for  worship  until  1895.  Few 
members  lived  near  the  spot  hallowed  by  nearly  a  century  of  worship. 
Owing  to  the  great  distance  most  of  the  members  traveled  to  reach  the 
historic  spot  the  congregation  agreed  to  establish  two  places  of  preach¬ 
ing  under  the  same  pastor.  The  southern  part  of  the  congregation 
built  a  house  of  worship  in  the  Borough  of  Eau  Claire  and  the  northern 
portion  erected  a  church  home  at  the  edge  of  a  village  called  Lisbon 
from  which  the  church  derived  its  name.  The  latter  group  used  the 
material  in  the  old  church  building. 

The  congregation  for  more  than  one  hundred  years  observed  the 
Friday  before  each  Communion  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation  and 
prayer.  It  also  held  a  service  on  the  Monday  following  the  Com¬ 
munion  service.  The  Session  required  the  adoption  of  the  Standards 
of  the  Church  by  every  applicant  for  membership.  The  Session  also 
appointed  the  members  of  the  choir  annually  and  administered  stern 
and  impartial  discipline  upon  all  offenders.  And  the  last  minute  of  the 
Session  of  this  thoroughly  indoctrinated  church  bears  the  date  of  June 
13,  1914,  and  the  last  Communion  service  under  this  strict  rule  was 
held  June  29,  1914. 

Lisbon  Church  continued  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Clarion  of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church  of  North  America  until 
the  congregation  voluntarily  presented  a  petition  to  Butler  Presbytery 
at  Slippery  Rock,  September  15,  1914,  asking  to  be  received  under  its 
care.  After  due  consideration  the  request  of  the  petitioners  was  granted 
and  after  a  hearty  welcome  the  church  was  enrolled.  The  following  mem¬ 
bers  constituted  the  Lisbon  Church  when  it  was  organized  in  1895: 
Robert  T.  Atwell.  Mrs.  Phebe  Atwell,  Martha  J.  Atwell,  John  B. 
Atwell,  Mrs.  Olive  Atwell,  Mrs.  Martha  Clay,  Mrs.  Sarah  Crawford, 
Mrs.  Martha  Curtis,  Annie  Daugherty,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Donaldson, 
Etta  Donaldson.  James  Douglass,  Reuben  Douglass,  Airs.  Eva  Doug- 


173 


lass,  James  A.  Irwin,  Mrs.  Grace  Irwin,  Mrs.  Martha  Irwin,  Mrs. 
Charity  J.  Kingsley,  Mrs.  Minnie  Lockhard,  Johnston  McGinnis,  Mrs. 
Juliana  McGinnis,  Baxter  McGinnis,  Mrs.  Nancy  Milford,  Mrs.  Mary 
Jane  Parks,  Louie  Parks,  Joseph  Perry,  Moses  T.  Perry,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Perry,  Mrs.  Nancy  Eakin,  Finley  J.  Griffin,  Mrs.  Martha  Griffin, 
Reuben  Heckathorn,  Maggie  Heckathorn,  Mrs.  Catherine  Pollock,  Mrs. 
Margaret  Pollock,  David  Russell,  Mrs.  Sarah  Russell,  Samuel  Sloan, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Sloan.  Twenty-seven  women  and  thirteen  men  consti¬ 
tuted  the  membership  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Lisbon 
Church.  From  the  time  the  church  was  received  into  Butler  Presbytery 
Rev.  John  W.  W  itherspoon,  Jr.,  pastor  of  the  Scrubgrass  and  Allegheny 
Churches,  preached  at  Lisbon  Church  Sabbath  evenings  as  Stated  Sup¬ 
ply  until  his  pastorate  closed  June  26,  1917.  Since  that  time  it  has 
shared  with  these  churches  the  pastor’s  service. 

PASTORS  UNDER  THE  ASSOCIATE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Rev.  Thomas  McClintock,  1803-1832;  Rev.  William  C.  Pollock, 
1835-1832;  Rev.  William  A.  Black,  1854-1858;  Rev.  John  M.  Snod¬ 
grass,  1858-1862;  Rev.  Samuel  Ramsey,  ten  years;  Rev.  S.  M.  McNeal, 
ten  years,  Rev.  A.  M.  Alalcom,  1894-1903;  Rev.  William  Hunter, 
1903-  ;  Rev.  S.  B.  Houston,  1908-1914. 

PASTORS  IN  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Rev.  John  W.  Witherspoon,  Jr.,  S.  S.,  1914-1917;  Rev.  William  C. 
Work,  1918-1920;  Rev.  A.  J.  Sauerbrunn,  1920-1922. 

ELDERS 

First  Elders ;  Robert  T.  Atwell,  Reuben  Heckathorn  and  Finley 
J.  Griffin.  Other  Elders  while  the  church  continued  in  the  Associate 
Presbyterian  Church,  James  G.  Heckathorn,  John  B.  Atwell  and  John 
F.  Burke. 

Elders  Since  1914:  Edward  Atwell  and  F.  Lee  Atwell. 

I  he  church  has  a  small  membership  and  with  small  prospects  for 
growth,  but  its  sturdy  fidelity  and  loyalty  commend  it  as  worthy  of 
rich  divine  blessing. 

SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  BUTLER 

I  he  organization  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Butler  is 
of  special  historic  interest  and  importance.  It  resulted  from  an  amicable 
separation  from  the  mother  church  brought  about  by  the  natural  order 
of  events.  The  town  of  Butler  became  the  strategic  business  and  ship¬ 
ping  center  for  the  oil  development  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county. 
Many  families  engaged  in  the  oil  industry  made  Butler  their  perma¬ 
nent  home.  This  influx  increased  the  membership  in  all  the  churches 


174 


of  Butler.  In  1890  the  Presbyterian  Church  reported  five  hundred 
twenty-eight  members  and  could  not  provide  pews  for  all  who  applied. 
This  condition  caused  considerable  comment  as  to  the  propriety  of  or¬ 
ganizing  another  Presbyterian  Church  in  Butler.  No  immediate  action 
resulted  from  this  discussion  nor  from  the  earnest  public  presentation 
of  the  matter  of  another  organization  made  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  W.  E. 
Oiler,  D.D.,  in  December,  1894,  but  the  membership  steadily  grew  to 
seven  hundred  in  1897.  In  seeking  to  relieve  the  overcrowded  condition 
the  pastor  early  in  1897  called  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Session  and  Trus¬ 
tees  to  consider  the  propriety  of  securing  an  additional  place  of  worship 
and  urging  members  to  voluntarily  assist  in  conducting  the  proposed 


services  with  a  view  of  organizing  a  church  later.  This  proposal  re¬ 
ceived  the  hearty  and  unanimous  support  of  the  joint  meeting  and  I). 
L.  Cleeland,  R.  A.  White  and  J.  E-  Byers  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  secure  a  suitable  place  for  worship  and  to  obtain  the  services  of  a 
minister.  The  auditorium  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  was  secured  for  six 
months  with  the  privilege  of  continuing  a  year.  The  committee  was 
unable  to  secure  the  services  of  a  minister  for  six  months  but  arranged 
for  supplies.  The  first  Sabbath  service  was  held  June  6,  1897,  and 
Rev.  J.  D.  Moffatt,  D.  D  ,  President  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  Col¬ 
lege,  preached  the  opening  services.  Each  Sabbath  during  the  summer 
Sabbath  School  and  preaching  services  were  conducted.  So  generous 
was  the  response  of  members  for  the  work  and  so  enthusiastically  was 
it  supported  that  when  the  committee  reported  the  success  of  the  work 


to  the  joint  meeting  of  the  boards  on  September  20,  1897,  that  Mr.  D.  L. 
Cleeland  was  appointed  to  present  a  petition  signed  by  more  than 
two  hundred  persons  asking  Presbytery  to  be  organized  into  a  church. 
Presbytery  granted  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  and  appointed  Rev. 
J.  R.  Coulter,  D.  D.,  W.  E.  Oiler,  D.  D.,  and  Elder  Elliott  Robb  to 
organize  the  church. 

The  committee  met  the  petitioners  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  .Mon¬ 
day  evening,  October  11,  1897,  and  received  one  hundred  sixty-three 
members  from  the  mother  church  by  letter,  thirty-nine  by  letter  from 
other  churches  and  twenty-seven  by  confession.  These  two  hundred 
twenty-nine  persons  having  declared  their  readiness  to  be  organized 
into  a  church  and  having  pledged  their  loyalty  to  Presbyterian  prin¬ 
ciples  and  order,  were  duly  organized  into  a  church.  Rev.  I.  D. 
Decker  offered  the  organizing  prayer.  The  second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Butler  was  selected  as  the  official  title  of  the  new  organiza¬ 
tion. 

This  church  adopted  the  Rotary  System  and  six  Elders  were 
chosen  and  installed  by  the  committee  as  follows:  J.  E.  Byers,  El.  EE 
Allison,  C.  B.  Conway,  T.  B.  W  hite,  R.  A.  White  and  D.  L.  Cleeland. 
Also  six  Trustees  were  chosen  by  the  new  church:  J.  W.  Brown,  J  S. 
Jack,  Ira  McJ unkin,  J.  A.  Kirkpatrick,  C.  E.  Mdntire  and  Levi  M. 
Wise. 

The  unity  and  enthusiasm  of  the  new  organization  was  manifested 
by  issuing  a  call,  October  27,  1897,  to  Rev.  Edwin  R.  Worrell,  of 
Waverly,  Kansas.  This  call  was  accepted  and  Rev.  Worrell  was  in¬ 
stalled  January  20,  1898.  Specially  qualified  for  leading  the 
young  church  in  the  arduous  duties  before  it,  possessing  a 
rugged  personality,  a  preacher  of  great  courage  and  ability,  and  a  re¬ 
sourceful  executive  Rev.  Worrell  kept  the  people  united  and  aggressive. 
I  he  lot  on  which  the  church  stands  was  purchased  in  May,  1899,  at 
a  cost  of  $6,000  and  in  October,  1901,  when  the  debt  on  the  lot  was  paid 
1  ra  McJ  unkin,  Thomas  Hays  and  T.  B.  Young  were  selected  as  a  build¬ 
ing  committee.  The  contract  for  the  building  was  given  to  Mr-  George 
Schenck  for  $28,950.  The  work  was  prosecuted  with  vigor.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  June  29,  1902,  and  the  building  was  dedicated  on 
the  sixth  anniversary  of  the  church  organization.  The  bonded  debt 
of  $15,000  was  gradually  reduced  and  the  bonds  were  burned  October 
11,  1912,  the  fifteenth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  church. 

Rev.  Worrell  was  released  as  pastor  August  26,  1906,  having  ac¬ 
cepted  an  appointment  by  the  Temperance  Board. 

Rev.  George  C.  Miller  was  installed  as  the  second  pastor  July  11, 
1907,  and  still  continues  the  earnest  and  efficient  pastor  and  adminis¬ 
trator.  The  church  has  greatly  prospered,  not  only  in  paying  the  debt 
and  making  extensive  repairs  and  increasing  the  membership  from  440 


176 


to  1075  on  its  twenty-fifth  anniversary,  but  also  in  the  work  accom¬ 
plished  by  the  organizations  within  the  church,  besides  those  who  have 
dedicated  their  lives  to  Christian  service  at  home  and  abroad  and  bear¬ 
ing  much  fruit  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  the  Lord  and  Master  of  his 
Church. 

The  congregation  celebrated  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  its 
organization  with  appropriate  services  in  October,  1922.  and  moves  for¬ 
ward  with  renewed  vigor  and  loyalty  to  the  Great  I  lead  of  the  Church. 

MARS 

Mars  is  the  seventh  Presbyterian  Church  that  was  organized  in 
the  oil  belt  which  passes  through  Butler  County  from  northeast  to 
southwest.  In  1894  Mars  had  become  the  brisk  railroad  center  for  ex¬ 
tensive  oil  operations.  The  families  of  many  of  the  field  workers  lived 
in  the  village.  Among  them  were  a  number  of  families  of  Presbyterian 
belief  and  sympathy.  These  conferred  often  with  each  other  and  the 
hope  grew  that  they  might  worship  together  after  the  customs  of  their 
fathers.  Fearing  that  the  impulse  of  the  oil  development  might  be 
only  temporary  and  fearing  that  the  Christian  forces  might  be  weakened 
by  another  church  organization,  they  patiently  waited  until  it  became 
clear  that  there  was  substantial  and  permanent  growth  in  Mars  apart 
from  the  oil  industry.  The  time  came  when  this  group  felt  they  were 
justified  in  seeking  an  organization.  In  June,  1897,  they  presented  their 
request  to  the  Presbytery  of  Allegheny  and  a  committee  of  three  were 
appointed  to  investigate  the  field.  Their  report  in  the  minds  of  the 
leaders  of  that  Presbytery  did  not  warrant  the  approval  of  the  request 
without  further  and  closer  survey — for  there  were  already  three  organ¬ 
izations  in  the  village — Reformed  Presbyterian,  United  Presbyterian 
and  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches. 

Butler  Presbytery  protested  that  the  organization  proposed  at  Mars 
would  be  within  its  bounds  and  on  September  21,  1897,  proceeding  on 
the  rightfulness  of  its  claim,  appointed  its  own  committee  to  view  that 
field,  consisting  of  Rev.  W.  J.  McConkey,  Rev.  W.  S.  McNees  and 
Attorney  \Y.  D.  Brandon.  It  further  requested  Synod  to  define  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  Presbytery.  Synod  replied  that  the  southern 
line  of  the  county  had  been  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Presbytery 
since  October  15,  1871.  This  laid  the  responsibility  clearly  in  the 
hands  of  Butler  Presbytery.  The  report  of  its  committee  at  a  special 
meeting  of  Presbytery  December  28,  1897,  was  approved  and  the  com¬ 
mittee  was  directed  to  organize  a  church  at  a  time  convenient  for  the 
committee  and  the  petitioners.  Without  delay  the  committee  organized 
the  Mars  Church  January  10,  1898,  in  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church. 


The  original  members  were:  James  1.  Patterson,  Mrs.  Laura 
Patterson,  Heber  C.  Fleming,  Mrs.  Nordie  C.  Fleming,  J.  Milton 
Brown,  Mrs.  Eunice  C.  Brown,  W.  L.  Kelly,  Mrs.  W.  L.  Kelly,  W.  D. 
Turner,  Mrs.  \Y.  D.  Turner,  Mrs.  Ida  Owens,  Mrs.  Bertha  Barber,  Mrs. 
A.  W.  Archer,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Kizer,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Redick,  Benjamin  Phipps, 
Mrs.  Susan  Phipps,  George  B.  Stewart,  Mrs.  Laura  Stewart,  Mrs.  Jane 
Barr,  M  rs.  Margaret  Morrison,  John  Covert  and  Miss  Lyda  Covert. 
The  last  eight  were  received  on  examination. 

The  congregation  chose  J  Milton  Brown,  Heber  C.  Fleming  and 
George  B.  Stewart  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder.  The  last  two  were 
ordained  and  all  three  were  installed  by  the  committee. 

A  fine  spirit  prevailed  at  the  organization  and  the  new  church 
went  to  work  with  enthusiasm  and  a  will  to  succeed  that  has  character¬ 
ized  its  history  to  the  present  time.  It  secured  part  of  the  services  of 
Licentiate  Gill  I.  Wilson  during  the  last  year  of  his  seminary  course  and 
called  him  to  be  its  first  pastor  in  connection  with  the  Cross  Roads 
Church  in  Allegheny  Presbytery.  This  church  was  transferred  tem¬ 
porarily  to  Allegheny  Presbytery  during  Rev.  Wilson’s  pastorate,  which 
terminated  January  20,  1908. 

Until  the  present  brick  house  of  worship  was  completed  the  con¬ 
gregation  used  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  for  its  services. 
The  association  of  the  two  congregations  have  been  most  pleasant. 
The  lot  on  which  the  new  church  stands  was  purchased  from  the  foster 
congregation.  From  the  first  all  the  organizations  of  the  congregation 


178 


have  been  vigorous 
hundred  forty-four. 


and  efficient.  The 
PASTORS 


present 


membership 


is 


two 


Rev.  Gill  1.  W  ilson. 
Rev.  Thomas  C.  Stirling 


1898-1908;  Rev.  W.  K.  Weaver.  1908-1910; 
,  D.  D.,  1911-1920;  Rev.  Walter  L.  Moser,  B. 


D.,  192 1 


ELDERS 


J.  Milton  Brown.  Heber  C.  Fleming,  George  B.  Stewart,  Amos 
Crum.  Nathaniel  Greene,  Thomas  M.  Wood. 

Present  Session:  Elmer  P.  Sutton,  Charles  W.  Bunting,  Harvey 
E.  Pinkerton,  William  Yelte,  J.  Herbert  Balsiger,  J.  Roy  Gilliland, 
James  L.  Latham. 


EAST  BUTLER 

East  Butler  Presbyterian  Church  is  the  last  one  organized  by 
Presbytery.  It  is  located  in  a  small  town  of  the  same  name  two  and 
one-half  miles  east  of  Butler.  A  land  company  sought  to  provide  sites 
for  manufacturing  plants  and  homes  for  those  employed  in  such  plants. 
The  Yalvoline  Oil  Company  and  the  Hickson  Bed  Works  established 
large  works  and  a  village  was  plotted  and  a  number  of  homes  built. 

The  earliest  religious  work  attempted  in  the  village  was  July  4, 

1907,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Wimer  organized  a  Union  Sunday 
School  in  a  grove  where  a  few  seats  had  been  built.  During  the 
autumn  Rev.  William  E.  Oiler,  D.  D.,  went  out  often  on  Sabbath  after¬ 
noons  and  preached  at  the  close  of  Sabbath  School  service.  In  the  late 
fall  the  Sabbath  School  convened  in  houses  nearing  completion  and 
preaching  services  were  conducted  by  several  ministers  from  Butler. 
As  the  interest  increased  it  became  evident  that  a  church  was  necessary 
to  unify  and  conserve  the  results.  The  residents  being  identified  by 
membership  and  training  with  different  denominations  it  was  difficult 
to  determine  which  denomination  was,  all  things  considered,  most 
able  to  care  for  the  field.  It  was  finally  decided  that  the  best  claim 
belonged  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Butler  because  that 
church  had  organized  the  work  and  had  steadily  carried  most  of  the 
expense. 

On  April  22,  1908.  Presbytery  appointed  Dr.  Oiler  and  the  Session 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Butler,  consisting  of  Elders  R.  M. 
Anderson,  J.  F.  Anderson,  C.  N.  Boyd,  W.  D.  Brandon,  John  C.  Redick 
and  J.  S.  Wick  and  Rev.  George  C.  Miller  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Butler,  a  committee  to  organize  a  church  in  East  Butler  if 
the  way  be  clear.  This  committee  met  July  12th  but  after  a  careful 
canvass  of  the  situation  it  was  “deemed  not  wise  to  organize  at  this 
time"  and  so  reported  to  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery.  However 
things  cleared  and  the  committee  discharged  its  duty  September  27, 

1908.  Twenty-five  persons  were  enrolled  as  Charter  Members, 


179 


twenty-two  presenting  letters  from  other  churches  and  three  by  con¬ 
fession.  Their  names  are:  Mrs.  Myrtle  Titus,  T.  P.  Taylor,  Mrs. 
Katherine  Taylor,  Birdie  C.  Taylor,  Harry  Wimer,  Mrs.  Wimer, 
Leander  M.  Wise,  Mrs.  Rachel  Wise,  Helen  M.  Wise,  Joseph  Davis, 
Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Davis,  Martin  Davis,  Leslie  H.  Davis,  Mrs.  Bertha 
Day,  D.  W.  Sutter,  Mrs.  Araminta  Sutter,  W.  S.  Brandon,  Mrs.  Mabel 
Brandon,  J.  L.  Ralston,  Mrs.  Annabel  Ralston,  Anna  Leisy  by  letter 
and  Mrs.  Emma  Minor,  Ruth  Brandon  and  Dorothy  Brandon  upon 
examination. 

The  name  adopted  for  the  church  was  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  East  Butler.  The  Rotary  System  of  elders  was  adopted 
and  three  were  elected  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder,  viz.,  Leander  M. 

Wise  for  three  years,  Harry 
Wimer  for  two  years  and 
William  S.  Brandon  for  a 
year.  Mr.  Wimer  was  or¬ 
dained  and  with  the  other 
two  who  had  served  as 
elders  elsewhere  was  install¬ 
ed.  The  progress  has  been 
slow  in  this  difficult  yet 
necessary  field.  The  popu¬ 
lation  is  shifting  and  the 
public  works  prevent  regu¬ 
lar  attendance  and  interest. 
With  the  assistance  received 
from  Synod’s  Home  Mission 
Committee  this  active  and  earnest  group  have  done  splendid  work.  Its 
present  frame  building,  with  basement  for  Sabbath  School  and  social 
meetings  and  a  well  arranged  and  equipped  auditorium  is  evidence  of 
efficient  workers. 

Elder  Walter  L.  Moser  of  this  church  became  a  Presbyterian  min¬ 
ister  and  is  the  pastor  of  Mars  Presbyterian  Church. 

MINISTERS 

Rev.  Charles  C.  Cribbs,  1911-1913;  Rev.  George  J.  Timblin,  1913- 
1915;  Rev.  Melzar  D.  McClelland,  Ph  .  D.,  1915-1919;  Rev.  Earl  L. 
Stehman,  1919-19 22.  ELDERS 

Rotary  System-.  Leander  M.  Wise,  Harry  Wimer,  W.  S.  Brandon 
and  John  U.  Stoffer. 

Permanent  System :  Leander  M.  Wise,  Joseph  R.  Starkey,  Walter 
L.  Moser,  J.  A.  Snyder. 

Present  Session :  John  U.  Stoffer,  James  H.  Titus,  George  V. 
Glenn,  J.  Frank  Snodgrass,  Jay  M.  Hilliard  and  Clarence  S.  Parks. 


180 


LYNDORA  MISSION 


There  is  special  reason 
for  including  the  work  in 
Lyndora  with  the  history 
of  the  churches.  It  is  a 
separate  and  distinct 
kind  of  work  requiring 
special  fitness  and  prepa¬ 
ration  on  the  part  of  the 
workers.  It  is  real  mis¬ 
sionary  work  that  has 
come  to  our  door. 

It  was  not  the  first  at¬ 
tempt  of  Rev.  \Y.  E. 
Oiler,  D.  D.,  and  his  Ses¬ 
sion  to  give  gospel  advantages  to  people  of  foreign  speech.  The  Belgian 
and  French  families  employed  in  the  Plate  Glass  Works  were  without 
a  shepherd  and  an  interesting  Sabbath  School  was  developed  when  op¬ 
position  was  manifested  and  rendered  it  prudent  to  withdraw  the 
workers. 

The  establishment  of  the  Standard  Steel  Car  Plant  in  Butler  at¬ 
tracted  a  large  number  of  foreign  workers  and  their  families  were  with¬ 
out  religious  instruction.  At  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Oiler  an  afternoon 
Sabbath  School  was  started  with  Mr.  C.  N.  Boyd  as  Superintendent,  in 
the  summer  of  1904.  Volunteer  teachers  from  the  Presbyterian 
Churches  rendered  valuable  service,  while  the  congregations  gave  finan¬ 
cial  help. 

Butler  Presbytery  saw  the  need  and  importance  of  the  work  begun 
and  at  the  suggestion  of  its  Sustentation  Committee,  Revs.  E.  R.  Wor¬ 
rell,  W.  E.  Oiler,  D.  D„  and  W.  L.  McMillan  with  Elders  J.  M.  Corey 
and  C.  X.  Boyd  were  appointed  April  13,  1905,  to  take  over  the  work 
and  to  investigate  the  need  of  foreign  work  within  the  bounds  of  Pres¬ 
bytery.  Mr.  Dimitri  Halenda,  who  could  speak  several  languages,  was 
secured  to  make  a  careful  survey  of  the  conditions  and  he  spent  the 
week  ends  during  the  summer  doing  this  work,  in  helping  in  the  Sabbath 
School  and  in  preaching.  For  eight  years  workers  were  employed  who 
were  of  foreign  birth  and  familiar  with  the  customs  and  ideals  of  these 
steel  workers.  The  net  result  was  the  continuation  of  the  habits  and 
customs  of  these  cognate  races  without  any  definite  Americanization  or 
religious  improvement  except  among  the  children  in  the  Sabbath 
School. 

The  Committee  decided  to  reverse  its  policy  and  methods,  to  use 
the  English  Language  and  to  put  the  work  on  a  definite  American  basis. 


181 


Rev.  William  0.  David  came  from  a  similar  work  at  Monongah,  West 
Virginia,  and  has  supervised  the  work  since  May  5,  1912.  On  this  date 
58  attended  the  Sabbath  School,  ten  of  whom  were  Americans.  Three 
weeks  later  a  preaching  service  was  established  and  on  June  16th  the 
cornerstone  of  the  church  was  laid  on  ground  donated  by  the  Car  Com¬ 
pany.  Rev.  G.  C.  Miller  and  Attorney  W.  D.  Brandon  made  the  chief 
addresses  on  that  occasion.  On  November  10,  1912,  Rev.  George  Kemecz 
preached  morning  and  evening  in  the  Magyar  Language.  At  the  dedi¬ 
catory  services  in  afternoon  Rev.  G.  C.  Miller  preached  and  Rev.  W.  R. 
Craig  offered  the  prayer  of  dedication. 

As  the  work  progressed  room  was  needed  for  community  efforts  and 
on  September  9,  1919,  Presbytery  authorized  the  erection  of  a  Com¬ 
munity  Building  in  Lyndora.  Ground  was  broken  September  29th  and 
the  building  was  occupied  October  19,  1920.  The  dedicatory  services 
were  held  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  in  the  build¬ 
ing  December  14.  1920.  The  principal  addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev. 
W.  R.  Craig  and  Rev.  G.  W.  Montgomery,  D.  D.  Rev.  T.  C.  Sterling, 
D.  D.,  offerd  the  prayer  of  consecration  and  at  its  close  Rev.  W.  O. 
David  uttered  the  words,  “I  dedicate  this  building  to  the  Glory  of 
Almighty  God  and  the  good  of  this  community,”  and  this  message  is 
constantly  emphasized  in  all  the  activities  in  the  Community  I  louse  and 
the  Church. 

The  Presbytery  has  generously  supported  this  work  in  Lyndora  and 
rejoices  over  the  two  buildings.  The  Church  and  its  equipment  cost 
about  $4,000  and  the  Community  Building  something  more  than 
$17,000.  The  land  on  which  these  buildings  stand  cost  $500  besides 
two  and  a  half  lots  donated  by  the  Standard  Steel  Car  Company.  The 
Mission  has  had  its  trials  and  dark  seasons  but  the  workers  have  been 
faithful.  The  work  is  commanding  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the 
foreign  people  and  its  influence  is  widening.  The  present  staff  consists 
of  Rev.  W.  O.  David,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Young,  Mrs.  Daisy  Peterson  and  a 
number  of  volunteer  workers.  Miss  Grace  Russell,  Miss  Mary  Goch- 
nauer,  Miss  Della  Kuebler  and  Miss  Mabel  Whitmire  rendered  valuable 
service  in  former  days.  The  Superintendent  says,  “Of  the  paid  and  vol¬ 
unteer  workers  at  Lyndora,  seven  are  working  in  Home  Mission  fields, 
three  are  in  the  foreign  field  and  two  are  pastors  of  churches.”  This  is 
an  eloquent  testimony  to  the  deepening  of  the  desire  for  wider  service 
in  the  Master’s  Kingdom  and  may  such  a  spirit  pervade  all  the  history 
of  this  Mission  and  its  work. 


182 


BUFFALO  CHURCH 


(Historical  Sketch  on  Page  131) 


Owing  to 
ed  in  history 


an  unavoidable  delay 
of  Buffalo  Church. 


picture 


could  not  be  insert- 


183 


INDEX 


With  a  few  exceptions  the  names  not  paged 
not  reach  the  stage  of  licensure. 

Pages 

“Abolitionists”  .  42 

Academies,  See  Education 

Adams,  Jesse  . 124 

Advice  .  36 

Agnew,  John  R . TO,  71,  94.  95,  110,  116 

Alexander,  Adolphus  F. 

Allegheny  Church  . 68,  154,  155 

Allegheny  Presbytery  .  21 

Allegheny  Synod  .  20 

Allen,  Cyrus  G .  72 

Allen,  Perry  S.,  .  D .  72 

Allen,  William  F'.,  D.  I) .  72 

Allison,  James  .  72 

Alter,  Robert  P.,  Ph.  D.  ..71,  98,  140,  162 

Alter,  W.  Gray . 72,  85,  135,  172 

American  Board  . 61 

American  Revised  Bible .  63 

Amity  Church  . 68,  69,  82-86 

Anderson,  Andrew  . 119 

Anderson,  Clarence  0 . 73,  82,  126 

Anderson,  John  . 119 

Anderson,  Matthew  F . 72,  93 

Anderson,  Samuel  M . 72,  93 

Anderson,  Thomas  C .  93 

Andrews,  John  . 105 

Anniversaries  .  .  .80,  140,  147,  161,  163,  177 

Anti- Saloon  League  .  45 

Appeals  .  36 

“Ardent  Spirits”  .  44 

Arrears  .  27 

Assessment  of  Pews . 144 

Associate  Presbyterian  Churches . 172 

Atkinson,  John  S . 122,  132 

Atwell,  George  P.,  D.  D .  93 

Aughey,  John  H. 

Baker,  Anthony  G. 

Bans  . 76,  93 

Barbor,  J.  Park . 71,  126 

Barbor,  Robert  L. 

Barclay,  Carletin  H. 

Barnes,  William  C . 110,  159 

Bartholomew,  Archie  R .  73 

Bartz,  Ldysses  L.,  D.  D .  73 

Basse,  Dr.  Detmer . 135 

“Bassenheim”  . 136 

Bean,  George  W . 133,  147,  159 

Bear  Creek  Church . 68,  91,  115 

Beechwoods  . 68,  69 

Beitler,  S.  Wilmer . 114 

Bellefonte  System . 58,  113 

Benevolence  . 57-60 

Early  . 57,  58 

Systematic  .  59 

Proportionate  .  59 

Stewardship  .  60 

Every  Member  Canvass . 59,  114 

Bethesda  Church  . 68,  69 

Big  Spring  Congregation . 108 


are  candidates  who  were  dismissed  or  did 

Pages 

Bingham,  J.  Greer .  73 

Bingham,  William  S .  82 

Bird,  M . 134 

Bishop,  Gary 

Bittinger,  A.  Preston . 138 

Black,  John  G .  72 

Blayney,  Henry  G . 110,  133,  159 

Bleakney,  William  H. 

Book,  Herbert  E. 

Boreland,  John  W. 

Boundary  of  Presbytery ....  12,  17,  22,  177 

Bowden,  George  S.  Ph.  D . 145 

Boyd,  Abraham  . 

. 68, 

Boyd, 

Boyd, 

71,  72,  148 

.  83 

110 


131,  132 


Boyd, 

Boyd, 

Boyd, 


89,  90,  121,  122, 

A  Fulton . . 

A.  W. 

James  S . 52, 

John  . 

J.  Fulton . 72,  85, 

Bowman,  Joseph  . 123 

Bracken,  Newton.. 70,  71,  72,  119,  120,  132 

Bracken,  Reed  . 

68,  70,  90,  102,  104,  107,  117,  120,  136 

Bracken,  Theodore  . 119 

Bradshaw,  Charles  L . 134,  147 

Brady’s  Bend  Church .  68 

Breckenridge,  Walter  L .  72 

Briceland,  James  M . 74,  116 

Brookville  Church  . 68,  69 

Brook’s  License  Law .  43 

Brown,  John  .  72 

Brown,  William  A .  73 

Brugh,  William  1 . 52,  114,  148 

Brunson,  Alfred  .  79 

Buffalo  Church . 68,  131,  132 

Buffalo  Free  Presbyterian  Church . 69 

Bull  Creek  .  68 

Butler,  First  Church . 68,  70,  111-114 

Butler,  Second  Church . 69,  174-177 

Byers,  Edwin  W .  73 

Byers,  William  F. . . 72,  151,  156 

Cabot  Academy  .  53 

Cairns,  John . 71,  72,  132 

Calder,  Robert  S.,  I).  D. 

Caldwell,  Samuel  .  71 

Call  .  26 

Callen,  James 

Callensburg  Church . 68,  69 

Campbell,  Charles  S. 

Campbell,  David  F . 71,  72 

Campbell,  Henry  M .  73 

Campbell,  Howard . 71,  73 

Campbell,  James 

Campbell,  Wilbur  M . 71,  73 

Campbell,  William  O.,  D.  D .  72 

Catechism  . 103,  153 

Centennials  : 

Assembly,  1889 


184 


Pages 


Churches  : 

Plain  Grove,  1S99 
Middlesex,  1902 
Scrubgrass,  1902 
Concord,  1901 
INI t .  Xebo,  1905 
Muddy  Creek,  1905 
Plains,  1906 
Harrisville,  1907 
Butler,  1913 
Parker  City,  1919 
Portersville,  1920 
Presbytery,  1921 


Center  Church . 

.68,  86, -hS 

Centerville  Church . 

68,  70,  143 

Challenges  . 

.  "4 

Characteristics  . 

.  15 

Cheeseman,  Charles  P., 

D.  D..  . 

. 119 

Cheeseman,  George  H. .  . 

2,  100,  158 

Cheeseman,  John  B. 

Cheeseman,  Toseph  R.  . 

Choir  . 

Christian  Endeavor . 

Christv,  D.  D . 

. 138 

Churches  : 

Original  . 

.  68 

Organized  . 

. 68-69 

Received  . 

.  69 

4  ransferred  . 

.  69 

That  withdrew  .  .  .  . 

.  70 

Disorganized  . 

.  70 

Names  changed.  .  .  . 

Church  Buildings . 

. 30,  S4 

Church  M usir  .  . 

. . 34 

Civil  War  . 

.  81 

Clarion  Church  . 

. 68,  69 

Clarion  Prcsbvterv  .  .  .  , 

.  is 

Cleeland,  Earl  C . 

Clerks  : 

Singing  . 

Stated  . 

.  70 

Permanent  . . 

.  70 

Clinton  Church  . 

. 68,  69 

Clintonville  Church . 

68,  124-126 

Closing  Paragraphs  .  .  .  . 

C  ollertion 

.  58 

College  . 

. 129 

Commissioners  to  General  Assembly...  23 

Complaints  . 

.  36 

Communion  Services  .  . 

tv) 

Concord  Church . 

..68,  95-98 

Condit,  Ira  . 

.  83 

Confession  of  Faith.... 

. 62-66 

Efforts  to  Revise.  . 

Revised  . 

.  64 

Fruits  . 

Congregation  . 

f 

>1,  121,  162 

Conrad,  Lewis  L . 

.71.  72,  116 

Consolidation  Efforts  : 

Associate  Reformed 

New  School  Presb. 

Church 

. 62,  67 

Cumberland  Presb. 

Church 

.  65 

Reformed  Church  in  U.  S. 

.  66 

L'nited  Presbyterian 

Church .  66 

Cook,  Alexander . 

Cooper,  D.  A . 

Cooper,  D.  C . 

Cooper,  Henry 
Core,  John 

Cornelius,  Maxwell  .  .  . 

Cornyn,  John  K . 

Cotton,  Jesse  L.,  D.D., 

Coulter,  James  . 

116,  126,  133,  142, 
Coulter,  John  . 


Pages 

68,  115,  116 
. 123 


145 


. 116 

. 72,  116 

IX.  I)..  71,  145,  164 

. 72, 

147,  149,  154,  155 


. 71,  76,  93,  98,  100,  114,  133,  147 

Coulter,  J.  Redick,  D.  D . 

. 52,  70,  71,  72,  95,  140 


Courtney,  John  A.,  D.  D . 71,  72,  172 

Covert,  Charles  M. 

Covert,  William  H. 

Cozad,  Frank  A .  73 

Cozad,  W.  Kirk . 71,  72 

Craig,  James  .  91 

Craig,  William  R.,  D.  D . 114 

Cranberry  Plains  . 105 

Crawford,  Alexander  .  93 

Credentials  of 

Licentiates  .  36 

Ministers  . 13,  37 

Crestview  Church  . 69,  168-170 

Creswell,  R.  J . 107 

Cribbs,  Charles  C . 72,  142,  180 

Critchlow,  Thomas  . 166 

Crouse,  Samuel  .  24 

Crowe,  X'elson  K .  74 

Crummy,  H.  Russell .  90 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church: . 100 

Churches  . 65,  166 

Ministers  . 66,  167 

Cunningham,  Alexander . 100,  104 

Cunningham,  James  A . 116 

Cunningham,  J.  Glenn 

Cups — Individual  . 76,  163 


Danks,  Col.  IT.  P .  24 

David,  William  0 . 181 

Davis,  Robert  51 . 71,  72,  119 

Days  : 

Fast  . 93,  173 

Humiliation  . 173 

Prayer  . 173 

Debate  .  79 

Decker,  I.  Davison . 

. 71.  134,  142,  147,  151,  156 

Deer  Creek  Church . 68,  105 

Dickey,  W.  Condit 

Dickson,  William,  Diary  of . Ill,  147 

Dickson,  William  T . 

. 52,  74.  128,  130,  145,  146 

Dickson,  Mrs.  Harriet  L . 160 


Difficulties  : 

Between  members  .  35 

Factions  in  Churches .  35 

Committees  to  visit .  35 

With  pastors  .  35 

Dillon,  W.  H . 124 

Discipline  . 25,  37 


135 


Pages 


Disorderly  : 

Licentiates  . 36,  37 

Ministers  .  36 

‘'Distinguishing  Privileges”  .  91 

Divisions  of 

Presbytery  . 12,  69,  70 

Churches . 109,  116,  124,  170,  172 

Presbyterian  Church  .  42 

Dodds,  Francis  L. 

Doerr,  J.  Alfred .  73 

Domestic  Missions,  See  Home  Missions 

Dry  Summer  .  81 

Dunlap,  Cyrus  H.,  D.  D . 119 

Duplex  Envelopes  . 153 

Eagleson,  Hodge  M . 72,  126 

Eakin,  Frank  . 72,  73 

Eakin,  John  A.,  D.  D . 71,  72 

Eakin,  Paul  A . 72,  73 

East  Butler  Church . 69,  179-180 

East  Concord  Church .  17 

Eaton,  S.  J.  M . 84,  97 

Ebenezer  Church . 68,  69,  70,  114 

Ecclesiastical  Connections  : 

Presbyteries : 

Redstone  .  20 

Ohio  .  21 

Erie  .  21 

Allegheny  .  22 

Butler  . 21 

Synods : 

Virginia  . 20 

Pittsburgh  .  20 

Allegheny  .  20 

Erie  .  20 

Pennsylvania  .  20 

Edmundson,  George  R.,  D.  D . 145 

Education  : 

General  .  49 

Religious  .  54 

Public  Schools  . 51,  54 

Parochial  Schools  .  55 

Academies  . 51,  52,  145 

College  . 49,  129 

Seminary  .  50 

Religious : 

Home  instruction  . 103 

8abbath  Schools  .  54 

Christian  Endeavor  .  55 

Week  day  studies .  57 

Educational  Society  .  49 

Eggert,  John  E . 130 

Eight  Tracts  Church . 68,  69,  117 

Eighteenth  Constitutional  Amendment.  43 

Elder,  Silas  C . 88,  164 

Elders — List  with  each  church. 

Elders  as  Commissioners .  23 

Elliott,  Adam  B . 120 

Elliott’s  Settlement  . 77,  78 

Ellwood,  Henry  B . 148,  153 

Erie  : 

Presbytery  . 21,  78 

Synod  .  20 

Espach,  Augustus  C . 71,  153 

Evans  City  Church . 69,  164-166 


Pages 

Every  Member  Canvass . 59,  114 

Expansion  .  17 

Explanation  of  the  Psalm .  92 


Fairview  Church  . 68 

‘Falling  Exercise” . S4,  92, 

Favorite  Text  .  79,  87, 

Fencing  Tables  . 

Fire  in  Churches ..  .30,  32,  78,  93,  100 

First  Temperance  Society . 45, 

Fish,  Benjamin  H . 

Fleming,  William  F . 

Foreign  Missionaries  . 

. 55,  93,  119,  125, 

Foreword  . 

Forrest,  James 

Foster,  Henry  C . 

Francis,  John  J . 

Franklin  Church  . 68, 

Free  Presbyterian  Churches: 

Harrisville  . 

Buffalo  (Worthington)  . 

Freeport  Church  . 68, 

Frost,  The  Great . 

Fulton,  John  W . 71,  85, 


70 

101 

89 

76 

110 

112 

74 


129 

6 

125 

71 

69 

42 

42 

69 

81 

110 


Galbraith,  Lewis  A. 

Galbraith,  Robert  L. 

Gallagher,  Joseph  M . 124,  134 

Gaupp,  Francis  A . 74,  122 

Gearhart,  Harry  A .  73 

German  Language  . 136,  151 

Gibson,  Elgie  L. 

Gibson,  Zen  M .  73 

Gilmore,  Thomas  H . 56-57,  72-73 

Gillette,  Clark  B . 116 

Glenn,  James  .  80 

Glenn,  John  . 71-72 

Glenn,  Samuel  M . 126 

Glenn,  Robert  .  83 

7oble,  Gershon  .  72 

Goehring,  Joseph  S. 

Goehring,  Samuel  M .  72 

Goettman,  Albert  H .  73 

Goff,  John  B .  45 

Jospel  Hymns  .  35 

Graham,  David  S . 122,  132 

Graham,  Frank  F .  73 

Graham,  Loyal  Y.,  D.  D .  72 

Gray,  Thomas  J . 85,  126,  172 

Green,  David  A .  73 

Greenwood  Church  . 68-69 

Greersburg  Academy  .  49 

Greves,  Ulysses  S . 119 

Grier,  Laverty 

Grove  City  Church . 126-130 

Grove  City  College . 53,  129 

Grossman,  Eugene  S. 

Grossman,  Robert  U . 124 

Guns  . 100 

Hall,  Davil  . 71-72 

Hall,  Samuel  B. 

Hamilton,  Jesse  W . 52,  148 

Harlansburg  Church  . 68,  69 


186 


Pages 


Harmony  Congregation . Ill,  140 

Harmony  and  Zelienople  Church . 


. 69.  135-138 

Harrisville  Church  .... 

. 108-110 

Harvev,  Plummer  R. .  .  . 

.71.  107,  169 

Harrison,  William  P. .  . 

_ 104,  120 

Hawes,  Lowman  B.... 

.  72 

Havs,  Frank  W.,  D.  1). 

. 71-72 

Hays,  Hugh  M. 

Haves,  Henderson  H. .  . 

. 104 

Haves,  Loval  Y . 

. 104 

Haves,  William  M . 

..74,  85,  126 

Hazlett.  William  T . 

. Tl.  122, 

,  132, 

140,  155,  162 

Hefner.  Elbert,  D.  D... 

. 74,  169 

Heltman,  Andrew  F. .  . 

. 138 

Henderson,  James  S.... 

Henrv,  Ebenezer . 

.  .  .71. 

95,  116,  132 

Hezl  ep  TT  erlierf 

High  Schools  . 

. 53,  161 

Hindman,  Don  A. 

History  of 

Churches  . 

. 77-183 

Presbvterv  . 

Hogg.  Willis  E. 

Hollister.  Charles  P. .  .  . 

. 125 

Home  Missions  . 

_ 60 

,  61,  136,  151 

Home  Missionaries  .  .  . 

.  55 

Home  Mission  Funds.. 

.  62 

Houk,  Clarence  E . 

Howe,  Edwin  C.  B.  D. . 

Howe,  John  L . 

Hughes,  Samuel  A . 

.  .  .  7°. 

.  88,  116,  155 

Hummell,  H.  Bradford, 

D.  D. 

.  72 

Humphrey,  James  D. .  .  , 

Hvmns  . 

..33  82,  164 

Hvmnal  Revised  . 

.  34 

Indians,  Missionaries  to .  93 

Institutes  : 


Xorth  Washington  .  . 

Witherspoon . 

52,  113 

Intemperance  . 

Internal  Strife  . 

. . . 109, 

115,  119 

Introduction  . 

Irwin  Church  . 

Itinerate,  Students  to.... 

.  60 

Jack,  John  C. 

Jack  Robert  B. 

Jackson,  George  W .  71 

James,  John  A . 85,  135,  172 

Jeffers,  William  H.,  D.  L) . 107 

Jefferson  Center  Church ....  68,  69,  151-154 

Johnson,  Robert  . 92,  95 

Johnson,  Charles  G .  56 

Johnston,  Edward  .  93 

Johnston,  Joseph . 37,  109,  149 

Johnston,  Samuel  L . 71,  104,  120,  13S 

Johnston,  J.  Watson . 71,  90 

Johnston,  T.  J . 124 

Jolly,  Charles  S. 

Jones,  J.  M. 

Junkin,  B.  O. 

Junkin,  Clarence  M .  72 


Pages 


Earns  City  Church . 

69 

Kaufman,  Henry  E . 

110, 

159 

Kean,  William  F . 

71 

Keeth,  Lewis  E . 

. Tl, 

122, 

132 

Kelly,  George  S. 

Kelly,  James  M . 

•  85, 

126 

Kelly,  Jonathan  C . 

To 

Kellv,  Newton  B . 

119 

Kelso,  Tohn  B . 

71 

Kennedy,  William 

Kennerdell  Church . 

123, 

124 

Kerus,  Francis  A . 

. 71. 

151, 

156 

Kerr,  Samuel  . 

107 

Kerr,  Thomas  F . 

126 

Kerr,  Thomas  W . 

.  .  .  .71,  7 

2,  90 

,  93 

Ketler,  Isaac  C.,  D.  D., 

LL.  D... 

..53  71 

7° 

129 

Ketler,  Weir  C  . 

King,  Tohn  A . 

r-»> 

1  O 

Kinkaid,  Samuel  P . 

7° 

Kirkbride,  Sherman  A  ,  D.  D . 

ss 

Kirkpatrick,  David  .... 

,  51 

Kiser,  Laurel  V. 

Tv  n  n x  "Rh  Iph  (t  . 

56 

Kreger,  Winfield  S.,  Ph. 

D„  D.  D . 

,  1  3 

Kuhn,  Detmar  T . 

.  .71, 

“  •  > 

•  <3 

Laverty,  D.  H . 

o  “ 

133, 

159 

Law,  D.  T . 

P’3 

Law  and  Order  Societies 

.  45 

Lawrence,  Alonzo  W. .  .  . 

.  .  72,  133, 

158, 

159 

Lawrence,  Ernest  B . 

1 3 

Lawrence,  Tohn  H . 

.  .  .71 

,  73 

Lawrenceburg  Church  .  . 

.114 

Lawther,  James  H.,  Ph. 

D., _ 71 

,  95, 

155 

Leake,  Lemuel  F . . 

. 104, 

136, 

138 

Leason,  T.  Sharp . 

. 72 

:,  93, 

133 

Lee,  Harold  IT. 

Lee,  Rober*: . 

,  32, 

110 

i^eech,  T.  Clair . 

.  138 

Leesburg  Church . 

.  .68, 

69 

Leith,  Hugh,  D.  D., . 

.  .71, 

138 

Lewis,  Thomas  R.,  D.  D 

.  .70, 

166 

Licensed  . 

..72, 

,  < 3 

Licentiates  to  itinerate. 

.  60 

Licking  Church . 

. 1' 

7,  68 

,  69 

Limberg,  C.  A . 

.  153 

Linn,  Carl . 

. Tl, 

151, 

153 

Linnville  Church  . 

.  69 

Liquor  Licenses  . 

.  43 

Lisbon  Church . 

,  172 

-174 

"Little  Scotland  ’  . 

.  11 

Logan,  Harvey  W . 

122, 

132 

Log  College  . 

49 

Long  pastorates  . 

.  25 

Loughner,  Tosiah  R . 

.  1  °0 

Lowrie,  Hon.  Walter.  .  . 

.114 

Lowry,  Joseph 

Lowry,  Houston  W . 

.116 

Lvndora  Mission  . 

.181 

Maclnnis,  J.  Angus.... 

.  72 

Macurdy,  Elisha  . 

.  78 

Magee,  Francis  W. 

Maharg,  Mark  B . 

“  •> 
i  O 

187 


Pages 

Manual  Labor  School . 105,  136 

Marriage  Bans  . 76,  93 

Mars  Church . 69,  177-179 

Marshall,  Charles  P .  73 

Marshall,  Tames  H . 98,  142 

M  arshall,  William  E .  73 

Martinsburg  Church . 68,  149-151 

Martyrs  : 

Campbell,  David  E..  India; 

Simcox,  Frank  E.,  China. 

Mateer,  Calvin  W.,  D.  D .  72 

Maxwell,  Alexander  B .  72 

May,  Hezekiah  .  69 

Means,  G.  1 .  164 

Mechlin,  George  W .  72 

Medical  Missionaries  . 129 

Meetings  of  Presbytery .  14 

Menaul,  Tames  A . 71,  145,  159 

Men's  Prayer  Circle . 150 

Middlesex  Church . 44,  68,  88-91 

Mifflin,  Robert  A . 160 

Milford,  Thomas  T .  72 

Millbrook  Church . 170-172 

Miller,  George  C.,  D.  D . 74,  176 

Miller,  James  E . 71,  151,  156 

Miller,  John  V . 

...67.  71,  116,  122,  126,  162,  140,  142 
Miller,  J.  Walker,  D.  D...71,  104,  116,  120 

Millerstown  Church .  69 

Minimum  Salary  .  29 

Missionary  Societies . 80,  96,  120 

Missionaries . 53,  93,  119,  125,  129 

Missions  : 

Belgian  and  French . 116 

Glade  Run  . 165 

Lyndora  . 181 

Monday  Service  . 96,  166 

M  onev .  . 16,  27,  74 

Monroe,  G.  Karl 

Montgomery,  Beriah  C...71,  140,  149,  151 
Montgomery,  Frank  S. 

Montgomery,  James 

Montgomery,  Thomas  H .  71 

Montgomery,  LBysses  L . 74,  120 

Moore,  Carl  . 124 

[Moore,  Charles  . 168,  145 

Moore,  F.  M . 124 

Moore,  John . 71,  107,  110,  126,  163 

Moore,  John  H . 74,  166,  169 

Morehead,  William  .  91 

Moricz  Balint  D . 72,  73,  74 

[Morrison,  Stephen 

[Moser,  Walter  L.,  B.  D . 73,  179 

[Mother  Churches  .  18 

Mount  Xebo  Church . 68,  100-105 

Mount  Tabor  Church . 68,  69 

Mount  Varnum  U.  P.  Church . 160 

Muddy  Creek  Church . 96,  99,  100 

Muller,  George  C . 166 

Munson,  John . 13,  24,  68,  70,  79,  88 

Murphy,  Jacob . 123,  134 

Murray,  John  W .  72 

Music  .  33 

Musical  Instruments  .  76 


Pages 


Maclnnis,  Angus  T . 

..71, 

166 

MacEwan,  William  W . 

98 

McAbov,  Leland  R . 

.  .70, 

106 

[McBride,  Tohn  D . 

73 

McCandless,  Porter  R. 
McCaslin,  David  R. 

McCaslin,  Robert  . 

...71, 

,  SI 

McClellan,  Charles  H . 

114 

McClelland  Melzar  D.,  Ph.  D. 

73,  85,  104,  120,  135,  142, 

168, 

172, 

180 

McClure,  W.  Lincoln . 

.71. 

151, 

156 

McClvmonds,  Ira  S . 

McConkey,  F.  Paul . 

McConkey,  Walter  P . 

73 

McConkev,  William  T.,  D.  D. 

.  .88, 

128 

[McCullough,  Andrew  W . 

.101. 

104 

McCurdy,  Shields  W. 
McDonald,  Herbert  O . 

-70 

119 

Me  Elroy,  John  C . 151,  156 

McGarrah,  Robert  . 16,  17,  68,  69 


McGonnigle.  Tohn  N. .  . 

. 116 

McTunkin,  [Moore  .  .  .  . 

. 100 

[McKee,  David  D. .  .  . 

132 

McKee.  T.  Park . 

.  72 

McKee,  William  T . 

.  71 

McKinney,  Charles  S. . 

. 104.  168 

McKinney,  William  W, 

. 71.  88 

McLure's  Spring  . 

. 101 

McMichael,  William  .  . 

McMillan,  Tohn,  IT.  D.. 

. 49,  79,  87 

McMillan,  W.  Lamont 

.71,  90,  107,  166,  170 

McKees,  Willis  S„  D. 

IT . 

. 70,  71, 

72,  90,  140,  148,  168 

McPherrin,  Ebenezer 

McPherrin,  John . 

68,  95,  98,  100,  114 

McPherrin,  Tosiah . 

71,  72,  98,  122,  132 

Natrona  Church  . 

. 68,  69 

Nesbit.  William  . 

. 136 

New  Blood  . 

New  Hope  Church . 

. 69,  158-159 

New  Rehoboth  Church. 

. 17,  68,  69 

New  Salem  Church.... 

. 68,  139,  140 

New  Sehoo1 : 

Church  . 126 

Ministers  . 127 

Niblock,  Isaiah,  D.  D .  24 

Xicholson,  William  H . 85,  185,  172 

Normal  School  . 145 

North  Butler  Church . 68,  140-142 

North  Liberty  Church . 69,  162-164 

North  Washington  Church . 69,  160-162 

North  Washington  Institute . 53,  160 


Offutt,  Robert  M . 

Ogden,  Ephraim . 25,  71,  90,  122, 

Ohio  Presbytery . 77, 

Oliver,  John  M.,  D.  D . 71,  100, 

Oiler,  William  E.,  D.  D..114,  175,  179, 

Ordinations  . 71, 

Origin  of  Presbytery  . 

Organization  of 

Presbytery  . 

Churches  . 

Orr,  Robert  A . 


7  3 
148 
86 
158 
182 
72 
.  9 

13 

17 


188 


Pages 


Orr,  William  H.,  Ph.  D. 
Oxtobv,  Tohn  T . 


Pages 

...  lb 
.  .  .  7i’ 


Parker  City  Church,  (see  Ebenezer).. 

. OS,  69,  114-117 


Resolutions  : 

Presbytery . 36,  40,  40,  51,  61,  62 

Synod  .  23 

Reunion  of  O.  S.  and  N.  S.  Churches..  62 
Revision  of  Bible .  63 


.  24 

Revivals . <9 

80, 

126  154 

.  25 

1800  . 

.  N4  101 

. 12°,  13” 

1857  . 

.  97 

Patton,  David  . 

N8 

Rhodes,  Harry  A . 

Patton.  William  D . 

_ 74,  85.  110 

Rich  11  ill  Church . 

.  .68,  7<  > 

Pearson,  Thomas  W . 

. 72,  ns 

Richland  Church  . 

. .ON,  69 

Peck,  Elias  S. 

Riggs,  Cyrus . 68,  93 

,  95, 

110,  115 

Perrv  Church  . 

.  69 

Riggs,  Cvrus  C . 

.  72 

Petitions . 35,  124,  13 

2,  141,  143,  173. 

Robinson,  George  B . 

. 116 

Petrolia  Church . 

Rockland  Church . 

. .68,  69 

Pew  Svstem . ' 

76,  81,  109,  144 

Rocky  Spring  Congregation. 

. 108 

Pine  Creek  Cnurch . . 

. 105 

Rodgers,  Tohn  A.,  D.  D . 

. . .71,  73 

Pine  Grove  Academy . 

Rodgers,  Morton  M.,  Ph.  I).. 

Pine  Grove  Church . 

Rose,  T.  Gray . 

110, 

133,  159 

Pisgah  Church . 

. ON,  69 

Rush,  Benjamin,  M.  D . 

.  45 

Pittenger,  James  S . 

...71,  100,  158 

Rutherford,  John . 

Pittsburgh  Svnod  . 

.  20 

Plain  Grove  Church . 

. 68,  77-N2 

Sabbath  . 

Plains  Church . 

. 68,  69,  105-107 

Sabbath  Schools . 54,  120, 

121. 

144,  150 

Plan  of  Union . 

.  61 

Salary  : 

Pleasant  Valiev . 

...68.  13”,  133 

[Missionaries  . 

.  61 

Polk.  David 

Pastors  . 

.  .”7,  ”8 

Portersville  Church  (Eight 

Tracts)  .  .  . 

Stated  Clerks  . . 

68,  69,  117-120 

Salt  Spring  . 

.111  140 

Potter.  Gilbert  M . 

. 165,  166 

Satterfield,  Mead . 

.  .71, 

,  85,  110 

Potter,  Tohn  W . 

. 107 

Sauerbrunn,  Arnold  J.  95.  132 

,  153 

. 155,  174 

Powell,  Amos 

Say,  D.  Rester . 

70 

Praise  : 

Schaumburg,  Rudwig  C . 

Rouse's  Psalms  . 

•_>  o 

Scotch-Irish  . 

..11,  77 

Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns .  33 

[Manner  .  34 

Prayer  .  13 

Presbyterial  Society  .  SO 

Prohibition  Party  .  45 

Prospect  Academy  .  53 

Prospect  Church . 69,  166-16S 

Protests  . 12,  40,  107,  177 

Psalmody  . 33,  34,  79,  102,  109 

Public  Schools  . 51,  54 


Questions  Proposed 


16 


Ramsey,  X.  ReRoy . 72,  73 

Ramsey,  Samuel  .  71 

Rankin,  D.  M. 

Reagle,  William  G . D.  D .  72 

Rebstock,  Adolphus  . 145 

Records  . 14,  15 

Red  Bank  Church .  6S 

Redick,  John  . 6S,  93 

Redick.  Samuel  T. 

Redstone  Plan  .  5S 

Redstone  Presbytery  . 17,  20 

Reed,  Alvin  M .  S2 

Reed,  Harold  S. 


Reformed  Faith,  a  Brief  Statement.  ...  64 
Rehoboth  (Millbrook)  Church.. 69,  170-172 

Reiberl,  August  . 71,  153 

Reiter,  Uriah  D .  73 


Scott,  George  T. 

Scott,  Ralph  W. 

Scott,  Robert  T. 

Scrubgrass  Church  . 6S,  91-95 

Scrubgrass  (a)  Church .  69 

seaman,  C.  W . 152,  153 

Seel,  Edward  G .  73 

Select  School  . 136 

Seminary,  Western  Theological .  50 

Seneca  Church  .  69 

Services  of  Pastor  Reduced .  2S 

Shand,  W.  G. 

Shaw,  Hugh  S . 100,  107,  15S,  166,  170 

Shelley,  John  P.,  Ph.  D. 

Shields,  J.  Harvey .  72 

Shoaf,  John 

Shoemaker,  F.  Benton . S2,  164 

Shultz,  J.  Sturger .  74 

Simcox,  Frank  E . 71,  73,  125 

Simmons,  Kiddoo  P. 

Slate  Rick  Church . 68,  69 

Slavery  . 40-43 

Slippery  Rock  Church . 142-145 

Slippery  Rock  State  Xormal . 145 

Sloan,  David  H .  72 

Sloan,  Wilson  H . 98,  104,  142,  168 

Slonaker,  Paul  J.,  Ph.  D . 71,  116,  138 

Smalley,  John  .  52 

Smith,  James  AI . 122 

Snodgrass,  Janies  .  78 

Snowden,  Nathaniel  R .  36 


189 


Snyder,  Henry  E.,  Ph.  D . 

Snyder,  William  J . 

Southern  Presbyterian  Church. 

Spencer,  Julius  . 

State  of  Religion . 

Stehman,  Earl  E . 

steward,  Carey . 

Stewart,  George  P . 71,  73, 

Stewart,  Herbert  W . 

Stewart,  Leon,  D.  D. 

Stewart,  R.  Curtis . 

Stewart,  S.  Arthur . 

Stewart,  William  B . 

"Still  Houses”  . 

Stirling,  Thomas  C.,  D.  D. .  .  . 

“Stone  Churches” . 

Stone  Churches  : 

Butler 
Alt.  Xebo 
Scrubgrass 
Butler  Second 


Pages 

74,  107,  100 
.  .  .  .110,  150 

. 42 

. 150 

.  14 

. . . 143,  ISO 
....74,  134 
08,  104,  108 


73,  151,  150 
.71,  S3,  104 

.  93 

.  44 

. 170 

. 04,  104 


Parker  City 
Stoops,  J.  Porter 
Stoops,  P.  Dexter 

Stoves  in  Churches . 32,  03,  100,  110 


Subscription  Paper  .  20 

Summit  Church . 08,  147-140 

Sunbury  Church  .  08 

Sunbury  Academy  .  53 

“Supplication”  . 105 

Support  of  Pastor  .  20 

Synods : 

New  York  and  Philadelphia .  20 

Virginia  .  20 

Pittsburgh  .  20 

Allegheny 


Erie 

Pennsylvania 

Systematic  Giving  . 50,  113 


Tables  : 


Communion  . 

81 

Comparative 

74 

Statistical  . 

08 

Tait,  Samuel . 

.83,  84, 

108 

Tappan,  David  S.,  D.  D., 

EL. 

D . 

.  72 

Tarentum  Church  . 

. 08 

,  00 

Taylor,  William  G . 

105 

Tavlor,  Zechariah  B . 

_ 110, 

150 

Temperance  . 

.  .43,  40. 

,  40 

Tent  . 

.84, 

80,  100, 

122 

“The  Temple”  . . 

147 

Thompson,  Alexander  S. . 

.  71 

Thompson,  David  R . 

.73.  134, 

147 

Thompson,  Henrv  . 

100 

Thompson,  Henrv  B . 

. 72 

,  73 

Thompson,  lames  51 . 

—  •  > 
i  •_> 

Thompson,  Tames  51 . 

107 

Thompson,  Richard  51. .  . 

Thompson,  T.  Ewing,  Ph. 

D.. 

. .  73,  95, 

155 

Thompson,  Thomas  51.,  D 

.  D. 

71,  140,  150,  151,  160,  102 


Thorn,  Alexander  S . 72,  133,  14 1 

Thorn  : 

Ridge  . 02,  06 

Tent  . Ill,  140 


Tidball,  James  G. 

Timblin,  George  J . 

...  73,  104,  120,  134, 

Title  Page  . 

Tokens  . . 

Transferred  Churches... 

Tunes  . 

Turbitt,  John  . 


Pages 


142,  147,  168,  180 


76,  81 
69,  70 
33,  34 
...71 


Unity  . 68,  GO,  108 

Union  Church  .  68 

Unionville  Church . 00,  157-158 

Upper  Bull  Creek  Church . 08,  60,  122 


Van  Eman,  R.  Clarence 


Van  Eman,  Thomas  B . 120 

Virginia,  Synod  of .  20 


Waite,  John  . 

Waldberger,  J.  J. 

Walker,  Robert  B.,  D.  D...71, 

Wall,  Jacob . 

Washington,  George  . . 

W  eaver,  William  K . 

Webber,  Henry . 

Welch,  J.  Rayen . 

West  Glade  Run  Church . 

Western  Theological  Seminary. 

Westminster  Church . 

West  Sunbury  Church . 

W  est  Unity  . 

“What  hath  God  Wrought?”.. 
Whiskey  . 


. . .107,  100 

72,  110,  120 
...124,  134 

.  10 

. 170 

....80,  138 


.  08 

.  50 

68,  121-123 
68,  145-147 

. 108 

. 75,  76 

.  44 


White  Oak  Spring  U.  P.  Church . 103 

White,  Samuel  S. 

Williams,  .Aaron . 105,  136 

Will  iams,  D.  Porter .  73 

Williams,  F.  Boyd .  72 

Williams,  Robert  E . 71,  72 

Williams,  R.  Lewis .  72 

Williams,  Samuel.. 71,  72,  09,  100,145,158 

Williamson,  Charles  H . 130 

Wilson,  Gill  I.,  D.  D . 73,  178,  170 

Wine  . 48,  70,  163 

Wishart,  Marcus 

Witherspoon  Institute  . 52,  113 

Witherspoon,  John  W.,  Jr..  .72,  95,  155,  174 

Wolf  Creek  U.  P.  Church .  79 

Wolff,  A.  Thompson .  74 

Women  s  Christian  Temperance  Union.  45 
Women’s  Missionary  Societies.  .80,  93,  120 

Wood,  William  . 78,  88 

Work,  William  C . 74,  95,  155,  174 

Worrell,  Edwin  K.,  D.  D . 176 

Worthington  Church  .  60 

Wortman,  Elmer  C . 71,  73 

Wright,  Ernest  J .  88 

Wright,  J.  Hervey . 08,  145,  147,104 

Wylie,  William  T . 113,  114 


Yates,  Rudolph  C . 71,  138,  168,  100 

Young,  Loyal,  D.  D....52,  70,  71,  112,  114 
Young,  S.  Hall 

Young,  Sylvester  W.,  Ph.  D . 110,  159 

Young,  Watson  J . 104,  168 


Zelienople  Church 


190 


6S,  135-138 


I 


Princeton 


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